“Let us put a stop to this horror of torture!”: Pope Francis’s strong appeal to the international community
- The new video contains a powerful call for the abolition of torture: “It is essential to put the dignity of the person above all else,”
- The Pope condemns not only the most violent forms of torture, but also those that are “more sophisticated, such as degrading someone, dulling the senses, or mass detentions in inhumane conditions.”
- Horrified that it is currently still practiced, the Pope calls on the international community to “commit itself concretely to abolish torture, guaranteeing support to victims and their families.”
TEXT OF THE POPE’S MESSAGE
Torture. Oh my God – torture!
Torture is not past history. Unfortunately, it’s part of our history today.
How is it possible that the human capacity for cruelty is so huge?
There are extremely violent forms of torture. Others are more sophisticated, such as degrading someone, dulling the senses, or mass detentions in conditions so inhumane that they take away the dignity of the person.
But this is not something new. Let’s think of how Jesus himself was tortured and crucified.
Let us put a stop to this horror of torture. It is essential to put the dignity of the person above all else.
Otherwise, the victims are not persons, they are “things,” and can be mistreated mercilessly, causing death or permanent psychological and physical harm lasting a lifetime.
Let us pray that the international community commit itself concretely to abolish torture, guaranteeing support to victims and their families.
Pope Francis – June 2023