Pope Leo: No one may claim right to violate dignity of others

Pope Leo XIV meets with an OSCE-organized conference on combatting drugs and organized crime, and upholds the importance of the rule of law, crime prevention, and social support for those afflicted by the scourge of illicit drugs.

Pope Leo greets participants in the OSCE-organized conference (@Vatican Media)

Pope Leo XIV held an audience on Friday with participants in the Second Inter-parliamentary Conference on the Fight against Drugs and Organized Crime.

The event was promoted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a club of 57 states across Europe, North America, and Central Asia.

In his address, the Pope said their presence at the conference highlights the importance of combatting “the scourge of illicit drugs” and the criminal networks that imperil “the very future of our societies.”

The Holy See remains firmly convinced that the rule of law, crime prevention, and criminal justice must work together in unity, he said, adding that these elements are essential for integral human development.

“No truly just society can endure unless the law—and not the arbitrary will of individuals—remains sovereign,” he said, “while no person or group, regardless of power or status, may ever claim the right to violate the dignity and rights of others or of their communities.”

Law enforcement authorities and wider society, he added, must work to prevent criminal activities while respecting universal human rights.

Pope Leo XIV went on to recall that true justice cannot be satisfied only with punishment, since justice requires perseverance and mercy in order to reintegrate criminals into society.

“The same respect for the inherent dignity of every person, including those who have committed crimes, precludes the use of the death penalty, torture, and every form of cruel or degrading punishment,” he said.

The Pope called for comprehensive programs to assist people who fall into addiction, which offer them medical treatment, psychological support, and rehabilitation.

By employing a multi-disciplinary approach that avoids both purely repressive measures and persmission solutions, he added, former addicts may learn to rediscover their God-given dignity.

Education is the key to prevention, said Pope Leo, noting that it helps children recognize the devastating effects of drugs.

“When social media so often disseminates dangerous misinformation that trivializes these risks,” he said, “education must begin within the family and be strengthened in the school, imparting accurate scientific knowledge of the ruinous effects of narcotics upon the brain, the body, personal conduct and the common good of the community.”

Preventing and combatting organized crime, he said, is an essential aspect of building safe, just, and stable societies.

Pope Leo XIV praised the work of of law-enforcement officers and judges, recalling those who have sacrificed their lives or endured injury due to their duties.

In conclusion, the Pope pledged the efforts of the Catholic Church and her many institutions spread across the globe to assist those afflicted by addiction in collaboration with civil society.

“Together, in a spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility,” he said, “we can promote policies that truly serve the common good and the inalienable dignity of every human being.”

Devin Watkins
Source: vaticannews.va/en