- Francis has spent years helping drug addicts in the slums of Buenos Aires
Pope Francis has branded drug traffickers “murderers” and slammed drug liberalisation laws as a “fantasy” as he marked the UN Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Francis devoted his entire weekly catechism lesson to a reflection on drug abuse.
He called for more prevention efforts and care for addicts, saying they are children of God who deserve to have their human dignity respected.
Francis spent years ministering to people in the slums of Buenos Aires, where “paco,” a cheap drug made from cocaine residue, devastated the community.
The Argentine Jesuit has long made visiting recovering addicts a priority during his foreign visits.
Francis devoted his entire weekly catechism lesson to a reflection on drug abuse
Francis spent years helping people in the slums of Buenos Aires, where “paco,” a cheap drug made from cocaine residue, was ravaging the community
He deviated from his regular reflection on a Biblical theme on Wednesday by highlighting countries and programs that he said were doing well in educating young people about the dangers of drug use and the “scandal” of human trafficking.
“A reduction in drug addiction will not be achieved by liberalizing drug use, as has been proposed or already implemented in some countries,” he said.
‘This is a fantasy. You liberalize, they only consume more.’
“I am convinced that it is a moral obligation to put an end to the production and trade of these dangerous substances,” he said.
Francis denounced human traffickers as murderers and evil “death traffickers” corrupted by a desire for power and money, and called on them to repent and change their ways.
At the same time, he advocated for care for addicts and legislation to support prevention efforts.
‘We too are called to action, to dwell on situations of vulnerability and pain, to know how to listen to the call of loneliness and fear, to stoop to help those in the slavery of drugs decay, lift it up and bring it back to life.’ said the Pope.