- Francisco spent years ministering to drug addicts in the slums of Buenos Aires
Pope Francis has denounced drug traffickers as “murderers” and called drug liberalization laws a “fantasy” as he marked the UN day against illicit drug use and trafficking.
Francis dedicated his entire weekly catechism lesson to a reflection on drug abuse.
He called for increased prevention efforts and care for addicts, saying that they are children of God who deserve to have their human dignity respected.
Francisco spent years ministering to people in the slums of Buenos Aires where ‘paco’, a cheap drug made from cocaine residue, plagued the community.
The Argentine Jesuit has made visiting recovering addicts a priority during his visits abroad.
Francis dedicated his entire weekly catechism to a reflection on drug abuse
Francis spent years ministering to people in the slums of Buenos Aires where ‘paco,’ a cheap drug made from cocaine residue, devastated the community.
On Wednesday, he deviated from his usual reflection on a biblical topic to point to countries and programs that he said were doing a good job of spreading the word to young people about the dangers of drug use and the “scandal” of trafficking.
“Drug addiction cannot be reduced by liberalising drug use, as has been proposed or already implemented in some countries,” he said.
‘This is a fantasy. “If you liberalize, they simply consume more.”
“I am convinced that it is a moral duty to put an end to the production and trafficking of these dangerous substances,” he said.
Francis denounced the traffickers as murderers and evil “death dealers,” corrupted by the lust for power and money, and asked them to repent and change their ways.
At the same time, he advocated for care for addicts and for legislation that supports prevention efforts.
‘We too are called to act, to stop in situations of fragility and pain, to know how to listen to the cry of loneliness and anguish, to bend down to lift up and resurrect those who fall into the slavery of drugs.’ said the Pope.