VATICAN - In prayer and on the march against human trafficking

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - There will be numerous missionaries, priests, religious, nuns and lay people who have come from all continents, at the prayer vigil that is to be held in the Basilica of Sant'Antonio al Laterano, in Rome, on February 8 at 6: 30 pm, on the occasion of the VI World Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking, which is celebrated on 8 February. During the vigil, presided over by Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section, those present will pray according to the intention of Pope Francis for the month of February; "We pray that the cries of our migrant brothers and sisters, victims of criminal human smuggling and human trafficking, may be heard and considered". During the meeting, animated mainly by young people, testimonies on trafficking by people committed to fighting the phenomenon of exploitation will be shared which, in the world, keeps 40 million people in slavery.
"Together against trafficking" is the invitation "to join forces to overcome the challenge of exploitation and human trafficking", says the International Committee of World Day, coordinated by "Talitha Kum", the network of consecrated life against trafficking.
The work was carried out in partnership with the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for the Integral Human Development Service, Caritas Internationalis, the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations, Anti-Trafficking Working Group and the Jesuit Refugees Service.
The date chosen, February 8, refers to the day on which the liturgical memory of Saint Bakhita, a nun of Sudanese origin, who became a universal symbol of the Church's commitment against slavery, is remembered.
The following day, 9 February, an awareness-raising march is also planned, which starts from Castel Sant'Angelo and will end in St. Peter's Square at 12 noon, to participate in the Angelus prayer with Pope Francis. It was the Pope himself who launched the first edition of the World Day in 2015, encouraging "those who are committed to helping men, women and children enslaved, exploited, to be the voice of these our brothers and sisters, humiliated in their dignity".
The hashtag #PrayAgainstTrafficking, on the social network "Twitter", intends to promote the importance of prayer and common action against human trafficking. Each person who shares this spirit will be able to share photos, thoughts and most significant moments of the different celebrations that will take place all over the world. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/2/2020)

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