Pope Francis has repeatedly shone the spotlight on the scourge of human trafficking and appealed for concrete and concerted action to root out its causes and protect the millions of victims of the modern slave trade.
To commemorate the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, the Pope met with members of Talitha Kum, the Galileo Foundation, Edelman and ESPO. Sr Gabriella Bottani, Talitha Kum’s international coordinator, explained the new initiative to Pope Francis. Artist Stephen Powers showed the first image that will be used on the platform and asked him to autograph it.
The highlight of the private audience happened when Pope Francis activated the “Super Nuns” page on the Patreon platform with a click on the laptop.
Talitha Kum has responded to his call. For 10 years the global network of Catholic sisters has been quietly dedicated to the prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation of human trafficking survivors. The work the sisters do is challenging and often risky. They are out on the streets raising awareness, making contact with victims in dangerous contexts, sheltering them from traffickers and exploitation, providing a passage home and new skills with which to rebuild shattered lives.
That’s why fundraising is important – and particularly complicated because the sisters operate out of sight and don’t publicly announce successes.
The SUPER NUNS community is a project launched by Talitha Kum (an initiative of the International Union of Superiors General), that aims to reach a whole new range of potential supporters.
As Sister Patricia Murray, Secretary of the UISG told Vatican Radio, thanks to a partnership between the Galileo Foundation, some popular street artists and an international communications platform, the work of the “super nuns” will be illustrated for all to see, as will the great spirit of the survivors. Vatican News Department
