The Pope addressed parliamentarians and representatives from across Europe, Central Asia and North America participating in a conference on illicit drugs hosted by the Italian Parliament.
Pope Leo XIV called for respect for human dignity in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking and reiterated his rejection of the death penalty, torture, and any degrading punishment in the face of a scourge that, he warned, “imperils the very future of our societies.”
In a May 15 audience with participants in the Second International Conference on the Fight against Drugs and Organized Crime in the OSCE region — dedicated to the “grave and urgent struggle against the scourge of illicit drugs” — the pope expressed his concern about criminal and drug enterprises.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) works to promote security, political cooperation, conflict prevention, and the protection of human rights in Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The May 14-15 conference was hosted by the Italian Parliament.
Leo stated firmly that the Holy See maintains that “the rule of law, crime prevention and criminal justice must advance together in unity.”
Citing the Churchʼs social doctrine, the Pope emphasized that “no truly just society can
