Thailand: The Pope inspires us to walk with poor and voiceless

By Vatican News

Pope Francis inspires us to walk with the poor and the voiceless in our world today.  “We can't turn our face from our brothers and sisters who fall into trafficking.” Those were the reflections of Sr. Paula Phonprasertruksa after hearing the Pope’s words during his address on Thursday to authorities in Thailand.

In his speech, the Pope spoke on behalf of all those women and children “who are wounded, violated and exposed to every form of exploitation, enslavement, violence and abuse.”

Speaking to Bianca Fraccalvieri, Sr. Phonprasertruksa said that Pope Francis, encouraged them to be brave, to come out from of their comfort zone to combat crime, and all the violence concerning children and women.

She went on to say that in Thailand, Talitha Kum, which is made up of religious from different congregations, carry out their work by collaborating with the government and local church organisations, such as Caritas Thailand and the Apostleship of the Sea in Thailand.

“We work together in partnership, to prevent, protect people from being trafficked and rescue them from violence", she said, 

Sr. Phonprasertruksa also expressed her gratitude for the Pope’s journey saying, his visit to Thailand “brings blessings and strength to all of us to do good for others, to devote our life for human kind. We are grateful that he comes to our small country.”

In 2009, the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) assembly formed Talitha Kum, an international network of religious women against human trafficking.