Francis dedicated today’s general audience to the World Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. “That fair laws be promoted to help drug addicts.” Significant words for the continent of the Golden Triangle, but also for the Chinese companies that export the active ingredients for the production of Fentanyl and Duterte’s bloody ‘war on drugs’.
Vatican City () – Every drug addict is a person whose dignity must be respected. But thinking of reducing drug addiction by liberalising its use “is a fantasy” because “there is more consumption.” What is needed – on the contrary – is “an act of courage” to combat “this scourge that produces violence and sows suffering and death.”
Pope Francis said it this morning in St. Peter’s Square, suspending his catechesis for a week and dedicating all his reflection to today’s World Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which by the will of the United Nations is being held. celebrated every year since 1987. “We cannot,” Francis has admonished, “ignore the bad intentions and actions of drug traffickers and traffickers: they are murderers, let us pray for their conversion.”
With production in its infamous golden triangle of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, Asia is one of the places where the interweaving between drug trafficking and conflict is clearest. In recent years, the issue of the responsibilities of Chinese companies in the production of fentanyl It has also caught the world’s attention. But the pontiff’s clear words against the path of liberalization also touch on a topic that has been highly debated lately in some countries, such as Thailand, which after opening up for “tourist” reasons to the decriminalization of cannabis consumption has recently reversed course. “After having learned so many tragic stories of drug addicts and their families,” said Francisco, “I am convinced that it is morally just to put an end to the production and trafficking of these dangerous substances.” The Pontiff also stressed that drug production and trafficking “also have a destructive impact on our common home. For example, this has become increasingly evident in the Amazon basin.”
However, the fight against drugs cannot be based solely on repressive methods, as the case of the Philippines, in Asia, has tragically demonstrated in recent years. Duterte’s bloody ‘war’. That is why the Pope invites us to follow the path “of prevention, which is done by promoting greater justice, educating young people in the values that build personal and community life, accompanying those who are in difficulty and giving hope for the future. “. In my apostolic travels – he added – I have been able to visit several recovery communities inspired by the Gospel. They are a strong and hopeful testimony of the commitment of priests, consecrated persons and lay people to put the parable of the Good Samaritan into practice. I am also comforted by the efforts undertaken by various Episcopal Conferences to promote fair legislation and policies regarding the treatment of people addicted to drugs and prevention to stop this scourge.”
“Faced with the tragic situation of drug addiction of millions of people in the world, faced with the scandal of the illicit production and trafficking of these drugs, we cannot be indifferent – Francis concluded – The Lord Jesus stopped, became close, healed the wounds. In the style of his closeness, 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 bring back to life those who fall into slavery. of drugs.”
Greeting the faithful, the Pontiff finally recalled the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on Saturday, June 29. “Following his example,” he told the faithful, “be missionary disciples, witnessing everywhere the beauty of the Gospel. To his intercession we entrust the peoples suffering from war, the tormented Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, Myanmar, so that they may soon rediscover the peace”.
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