Pope in New Year's message urges united fight against slavery, human trafficking
- 9 years ago
A round of cheers on New Year's Day in St. Peter's Square ... as Pope Francis greets tens of thousands of well wishers.
In his traditional first Mass of the the new year, the Pope prays - as he often does - for peace in 2015.
But the solemn Mass -- on the day the Roman Catholic Church marks its annual World Day of Peace -- also had another theme ... an end to slavery and human trafficking.
(SOUNDBITE (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING:
"This is the message of today. Because war always makes slaves. A message that affects everyone. We are all called to combat all forms of slavery and to build brotherhood. Everyone, each according to his responsibilities."
A global slavery index released in November estimates nearly 36 million people are living in some sort of human bondage ...
... either as slaves, or trafficked into brothels, forced into manual labor, victims of debt bondage or born into servitude.
The Argentine Pope has made defense of migrants an
In his traditional first Mass of the the new year, the Pope prays - as he often does - for peace in 2015.
But the solemn Mass -- on the day the Roman Catholic Church marks its annual World Day of Peace -- also had another theme ... an end to slavery and human trafficking.
(SOUNDBITE (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING:
"This is the message of today. Because war always makes slaves. A message that affects everyone. We are all called to combat all forms of slavery and to build brotherhood. Everyone, each according to his responsibilities."
A global slavery index released in November estimates nearly 36 million people are living in some sort of human bondage ...
... either as slaves, or trafficked into brothels, forced into manual labor, victims of debt bondage or born into servitude.
The Argentine Pope has made defense of migrants an