Pope Francis: More must be done to restore dignity to victims of organized crime

Vatican City, Sep 19, 2024 / 4:15 PM

Pope Francis on Thursday called on participants in the conference on the social use of assets seized from the mafia to work to recover the well-being – not just the assets – of victims and communities harmed by organized crime.

“I invite you to focus the conversations of these days on the urgency of restoring the good of all people, men and women, the good of every person, where everyone counts and no one is thrown away,” the Pope said in his message, originally written in Spanish on the occasion of the conference held on September 19 and 20 at the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in the Vatican.

The Holy Father stressed that it is neither “possible nor permissible” to forget the damage done to the dignity of millions of men and women who suffer “hunger and fear of violence, oppression or injustice” because of transnational criminal activities.

“Only by understanding this damage can we discern how to help, protect and restore those aspects that are essential for resolving conflicts and building peace,” the Pope said.

The conference, organised by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Italian anti-mafia organisation Libera, aims to highlight the need for international cooperation and an integrated approach to limit the activities and impact of criminal networks and structures.

Pope Francis also asked the conference participants to be guided by Catholic social teaching on human dignity and the principle of the common good as set out in Gaudium and Spes (no. 26), the Pastoral Constitution of the Second Vatican Council of 1965 on the Church in the Modern World.

The Holy Father also referred to the protocols established in the United Nations Convention of Palermo (2000) as an aid in the discussion on criminal law.

In his message, the Pope said that organized crime is an attack on the common good that requires political will and a coordinated global response to combat “one of the most important challenges facing the international community.”

“Organised crime, which is defined as a structured group that establishes itself over time and works together to commit crimes with the aim of obtaining material or economic benefit, has a transnational vocation and includes all major forms of trafficking in human beings,” he said.

“Along with terrorism, organised crime poses the main non-military threat to the security of any country and international economic stability,” he added.

The Pope also praised Italy’s anti-mafia initiatives that are working to rebuild peace and the common good by using criminal profits “to repair the damage done to victims and to society.”

Before concluding his message with good wishes and the promise of his prayers for the participants of the conference, the Holy Father stressed that study and reflection on law and justice must prompt participants to take action to build a better world.

“And with these sentiments I confirm my prayers for you and your families, I bless you and I ask you, please, to pray for me.”