Pope at Audience: 'Moral duty to stop production, trafficking of drugs'

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"Having known so many tragic stories of drug addicts and their families, I am convinced that it is a moral duty to end the production and trafficking of these dangerous substances." 

Pope Francis stressed this during his weekly General Audience in the Vatican on Wednesday morning, which falls today on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987.

This year’s theme is 'The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention.'

The Holy Father began by reiterating that drug use impoverishes communities, and that even if every addict has a unique story and has dignity as a child of God, that, regardless, drug use inflicts grave harm on every level of society.

'Cannot be indifferent'

The Holy Father said we cannot ignore the evil intentions and actions of drug dealers and traffickers, and observed that "a reduction in drug addiction is not achieved by liberalizing drug use, as has been proposed, or already implemented, in some countries."

"Faced with the tragic situation of drug addiction of millions of people around the world, faced with the scandal of the illicit production and trafficking of such drugs," the Pope demanded, “we cannot be indifferent."

In this sense, he called for action, and also doing so by imitating Jesus' loving example.

"In the style of His closeness," he said, "we too are called to act, to pause before situations of fragility and pain, to know how to listen to the cry of loneliness and anguish, to stoop to lift up and bring back to life those who fall into the slavery of drugs."

'Traffickers of death'

"How many traffickers of death there are, driven by the logic of power and money at any cost!" Pope Francis decried, saying, "this scourge, which produces violence and sows suffering and death, demands an act of courage from society as a whole."

Drug production and trafficking, he also observed, likewise have a destructive impact on the environment, citing the effect on the Amazon as an example.

Prevention, closeness, efforts

Given all of this, Pope Francis called for countering drug abuse and trafficking "through prevention," which, he insisted, "is done by promoting greater justice, educating young people in values that build personal and community life, accompanying those in need, and giving hope for the future."

The Holy Father recalled his visits during Apostolic Journeys to recovery communities inspired by the Gospel, and called them "a strong and hopeful witness to the commitment of priests, consecrated men and women, and lay people to put into practice the parable of the Good Samaritan."

With this memory, he said, "I am comforted by the efforts undertaken by various Bishops’ Conferences to promote just legislation and policies regarding the treatment of people addicted to drug use, and prevention to stop this scourge."

Pope Francis concluded by urging Christians and church communities, on this International Day, to pray for this intention and renew their commitment.