Papal plea for 150 million victims of forced child labor (Vatican Press Office)

“Yesterday, [the] World Day Against Child Labour was celebrated,” Pope Francis said on June 13. “It is not possible to close our eyes before the exploitation of children, deprived of the right to play, to study and to dream. According to the estimates of the International Labour Organization, more than 150 million children are exploited by labour: this is a tragedy! . . . Let us all together renew the effort to eliminate this slavery of our times.” (See related CWN article.)