

It was held on April 7 last, the third edition of the Via Crucis in
favor of women victims of trafficking, forced prostitution and
violence. This event, created by the Community “Papa Giovanni
XXIII”, in collaboration with the Diocese of Rome South, was
organized to raise awareness of the plight of these young women,
more than 100,000 between 15 and 25 years, to which it is our duty
to give them back the hope of a better life.
The Via Crucis, departed from Ponte Settimia Spizzichino, Garbatella
area, concluded after seven symbolic stations to the Church of Santa
Francesca Romana. The event was sponsored by many institutional,
civil realities, religious associations and saw the extraordinary
presence of the State Police and the Vatican Gendarmerie.

Present at the event the Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, the
Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin, the European Parliament
President Antonio Tajani, the Ambassador of the Great Britain to the
Holy See Sally Jane Axworthy, the Substitute for General Affairs of
the Vatican Secretariat of State, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu,
magistrates of Rome, other authorities, representatives of the press
and RAI.
The High Representative, Mrs. Rezan Kader, brought the evidence of
her experience in one of the stations, referring to all Kurdish
women, in particular Yazidi and Christian, who have been the subject
of slavery and sexual violence by ISIS terrorists and many of which
are still in their hands. Mrs. Kader has appealed to the
international community for solidarity and help for these women.
Even released, they need a long psychological support to be
integrated back into society and in their families of origin and to
overcome the shock experienced.

The President of the Papa Giovanni XXIII Community Giovanni
Raimonda, along with the event coordinator Don Paolo Buonaiuto and
Don Paolo Lojudice, archbishop of the diocese of southern Rome
thanked the Holy Father for having deeply supported this via crucis
and the heartfelt participation, together with Cardinal vicarious of
the Holy Father for the diocese of Rome Agostino Vallini who
concluded the event by inviting everyone to never give up and take
action to provide, each of us, our small but important contribute.
The High Representative was, at the conclusion of the event, interviewed by Rainews24.