Pope Francis: Drug cartels are “dealers of death” and “murderers”

“Let us remember … that each drug addict brings with him a different personal story that must be listened to, understood, loved and, as far as possible, healed and purified. … They continue to have, more than ever, dignity as human beings who are children of God. Everyone has dignity,” Francis said.

The UN launched World Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in 1987. The motto for this year is: “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention.”

Quoting St. John Paul II’s 1987 speech against drug trafficking, Francis said: “Drug abuse impoverishes every community in which it occurs. It weakens human strength and moral integrity. It undermines accepted values. It destroys the desire to live and to contribute to a better society.”

After his harsh words about drug traffickers “sowing violence and death,” Pope Francis prayed for their conversion.

“Let us pray for these criminals who give drugs to young people. They are criminals, they are murderers. We pray for their conversion,” Francis said.