VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Prosperous nations where foreign women are forced into prostitution need to drop their hypocrisy and “face the idea that they are part of the problem, rather than turning away, proclaiming their innocence,” Pope Francis said.
“If many young women victims of trafficking end up on the streets of our cities, it is because many men here – young men, middle-aged, older men – ask for their services and are ready to pay,” the pope told a group of adults and teenagers who had taken part in a reflection on human trafficking.
Meeting the group Feb. 12, Pope Francis responded to questions from the high school students and from young migrants about ways they could help fight trafficking and reach out to survivors.
One of the migrants asked the pope why there was such a “surprising silence” about the reality of trafficking. Part of it is ignorance, the pope said, but much of the silence comes from embarrassment. Citizens must be “courageous and honest” enough to acknowledge people working in prostitution or slave-like conditions and reach out to help them.
Through parishes and youth groups, he said, Catholic young people should meet survivors of trafficking, listen to their stories and befriend them. “Don’t be afraid to meet them,” the pope said. “Open your hearts, let them in.”
One young migrant, speaking in English, asked the pope what could be done to prevent trafficking when, in her country, with promises of jobs in Europe young people are tricked into slavery and prostitution.
“How horrible it is to realize that many young victims were first abandoned by their family, considered disposable by their societies,” the pope said.
Young people need to be educated to understand the traffickers’ ploys and the reality that likely awaits those who fall into their clutches, he said. Survivors of trafficking can have a huge impact by sharing their stories.
Education also is important so that young people can get decent jobs at home or go to universities and not be tempted by the false promises of traffickers, he said.
But, one of the migrants told the pope, it is “almost impossible” to find a decent job in Europe. More must be done, the pope said, to create jobs for young people, especially for survivors who have been rescued from traffickers.
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