On the International Day (June 26) against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Pope Francis says it is a “moral duty” to stop the production and trafficking of drugs and calls for prevention efforts.

The Holy Father said we cannot ignore the evil intentions and actions of drug dealers and traffickers, and observed that “a reduction in drug addiction is not achieved by liberalizing drug use, as has been proposed, or al-ready implemented, in some countries.”
“Faced with the tragic situation of drug addiction of millions of people around the world, faced with the scandal of the illicit production and trafficking of such drugs,” the Pope demanded, “we cannot be indifferent.”