Pope calls drug traffickers 'murderers', calls liberalization laws 'fantasy' at UN event

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced drug traffickers as “murderers” and called drug liberalization laws a “fantasy” as he marked the U.N. day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Francis devoted his entire weekly catechism lesson to a reflection on drug addiction. He called for increased efforts to prevent and care for drug addicts, saying they are children of God who deserve to have their human dignity respected.

Francis spent years caring for residents of the slums of Buenos Aires, where “paco,” a cheap drug made from cocaine residue, ravaged the community. The Argentine Jesuit has long made visiting recovering addicts a priority during his visits abroad.

On Wednesday, he deviated from his usual thinking on a biblical theme to single out countries and programs that he said were doing a good job of making young people understand the dangers of drug use and the “scandal” of trafficking .

“We will not succeed in reducing drug addiction by liberalizing drug use, as has been proposed or already implemented in certain countries,” he declared. “It’s a fantasy. If you liberalize, they just 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.

He denounced the traffickers as murderers and evil “death dealers,” corrupted by the lust for power and money, and called on them to repent and change their ways. At the same time, he called for treatment for drug addicts and legislation supporting prevention efforts.

“We too are called to act, to stop in the face of situations of fragility and pain, to listen to the cries of loneliness and anguish, to stoop down to raise and bring back to life those who fall into poverty. drug slavery. ” he said.

Nicole Winfield, Associated Press