Distinguished Parliamentarians,
Representatives of the participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mr. Ambassador,
Ladies and gentlemen,

With profound hope and pastoral concern, I greet you as you gather for 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. Your presence, drawn from many of the OSCE participating States stretching from Vancouver to Vladivostok, stands as a testimony of collective resolve to confront a phenomenon that sustains criminal networks and imperils the very future of our societies.

The Holy See is firmly convinced that the rule of law, crime prevention and criminal justice must advance together in unity. Indeed, the authentic implementation of the rule of law remains indispensable for integral human development. No truly just society can endure unless the law — and not the arbitrary will of individuals — remains sovereign (cf. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 408), while no person or group, regardless of power or status, may ever claim the right to violate the dignity and rights of others or of their communities. Therefore, preventing and responding to criminal activities is closely interrelated with the respect for and protection of universal human rights. This requires not only the efforts of law enforcement authorities but also the engagement of society at large, at both the national and the international levels.

In this regard, the Holy See wholeheartedly supports every initiative that seeks to establish an effective, just, humane and credible criminal justice system capable of preventing and countering the production and the trafficking of illicit drugs. Recognizing that true justice cannot be satisfied with punishment alone, such efforts must likewise embrace approaches marked by perseverance and mercy, aimed at the re-education and full reintegration of offenders into the fabric of society. The same respect for the inherent dignity of every person, including those who have committed crimes, precludes the use of the death penalty, torture, and every form of cruel or degrading punishment.

Comprehensive programs are needed to reach out to those enslaved by addiction, offering them medical treatment, psychological support and sustained rehabilitation. Such a multidisciplinary approach must regard the human person in his or her entirety, rising above purely repressive measures and permissive solutions, both of which fail to liberate individuals from the chains of dependence. In this way, they may rediscover and live anew the fullness of their God-given dignity.

Moreover, I wish to emphasize that education is key to prevention. It forms the foundation of integral human development and equips children and youth to recognize the profound devastation brought by drugs. In our time, when social media so often disseminates dangerous misinformation that trivializes these risks, education must begin within the family and be strengthened in the school, imparting accurate scientific knowledge of the ruinous effects of narcotics upon the brain, the body, personal conduct and the common good of the community.

Preventing and countering organized crime is essential to building safe, just and stable societies. From this perspective, I would like to acknowledge all law-enforcement officers and members of the judiciary who have sacrificed their lives or suffered injury in the courageous performance of their duties. Their witness should provoke in us sentiments of gratitude, responsibility and renewed determination.

The Catholic Church, through its many institutions around the world and drawing upon her long experience in accompanying those afflicted by addiction, stands ready to deepen still further her bond of fruitful cooperation with civil society. Together, in a spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility, we can promote policies that truly serve the common good and the inalienable dignity of every human being.

May this Conference bear abundant and lasting fruit in strategies of transnational cooperation, effective prevention and genuine hope. Upon all of you, upon your deliberations and upon the peoples you represent, I invoke God’s abundant blessings of wisdom, courage and enduring peace. Thank you.