VATICAN: Pope Benedict XVI has lauded the commitment made by women religious to put a stop to human trafficking. He affirmed his support for the initiative in a telegram signed by his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

The papal message was sent to a four-day international conference in Rome, on what various congregations of women religious were doing to oppose human trafficking, last month. Benedict contended that it was important to foster “a renewed awareness of the inestimable value of life and an ever more courageous commitment to the defense of human rights and the overcoming of every type of abuse.”

The meeting drew together not only religious and experts, but also members of the International Organization for Migration. The recently appointed president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, Archbishop Antonio Vegliò [inaugurated the working
sessions] expressed admiration for the work already done in this area.

Human trafficking, he said, is likely much more widespread than what is reported. It victimizes as many as more than four million people worldwide. The conference was told that as many as 2.5 million people were affected by trafficking, which is a US $150 billion business.

This money goes into pockets of those who control markets of prostitution, trafficking in organs.

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