Pope Francis recently visited a refugee centre in Rome housing women rescued from prostitution as part of his ‘Friday of Mercy’ gestures during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The home is run by the Pope John the 23rd community.
During his visit, Pope Francis met 20 women rescued from the sex trade who were trafficked from their countries of origin that included Romania, Albania, Nigeria, Tunisia, Ukraine and Italy. All of the women were victims of severe physical abuse during their ordeal and are living under protection.
A statement from the Holy See Press office said the Pope’s visit to this refugee centre is another reminder of the need to fight against human trafficking, which Pope Francis has described as “a crime against humanity” and “an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ.”
(Vatican Radio Report, August 12, 2016)