Pope Francis inspires young justice advocate
International
Catherine Edwards, a young Adelaide lawyer who has been campaigning at a global level against human trafficking, recently returned from Rome where she had an audience with Pope Francis.
Talitha Kum ambassadors in Rome.
Just a few days before being admitted to hospital with grave concerns for his health, Pope Francis met with a delegation of young people gathering for the Week of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.
Catherine said she was “so grateful to have the chance to meet him”, especially when he was already pushing himself to keep working while he was sick.
“It was a very chaotic experience, we weren’t sure it would happen right up until the last minute,” she told The Southern Cross.
“There were cardinals and security men in very expensive suits everywhere…we were supposed to meet in the hall but were ushered into his study because that’s where he felt most comfortable.”
The Pope asked who had come from furthest away and when Catherine said she had come from Australia she was pushed to the front and was one of the few to speak with him.
“He asked me in English how my flight was, and I told him I was very privileged to be there,” she said.
“He was everything you expect him to be – a lovely, caring man with a sense of humour and passionate about social justice.”
Catherine said she was surprised how “sad and nervous” she felt when his health deteriorated, and she constantly checked her phone for updates.
With his condition improving gradually, she reflected on how important it was to have his strong support for the anti-trafficking campaign.
“He speaks so much about it in his encyclicals…it’s really rooted in them, and he is doing what he has written about,” she said.
“You can really hear in his voice how he feels, that means a lot to me.”
As a Talitha Kum youth ambassador, Catherine joined advocates from across the world at the week-long gathering in Rome. Talitha Kum is a global network of Catholic organisations committed to ending human trafficking. In Australia, ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) is part of this network.
During his address to the youth ambassadors Pope Francis reinforced the vital role that faith-based organisations and grassroots initiatives play in confronting modern slavery and advocating for systemic change.
Catherine presented to the gathering on youth-led initiatives in the Oceania region, particularly on labour exploitation within seasonal worker programs and industries such as agriculture and construction.
“Many migrant workers in the region face deceptive recruitment practices, wage theft, and unsafe working conditions, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking,” Catherine said.
“Sharing these initiatives with an international audience reinforced the importance of raising awareness and building connections across regions.”
Catherine said one of the most powerful experiences was hearing from Pauline Akinyi Juma, founder of Rebirth of a Queen, a survivor-led organisation empowering people affected by trafficking and gender-based violence.
“Her testimony reinforced the importance of ensuring that those with lived experience remain at the centre of advocacy and policy efforts,” she said.
“I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of such an important gathering.
“The opportunity to listen, learn and share ideas with passionate advocates and survivor leaders was invaluable.”
A Mercedes College old scholar, Catherine helped establish Young Mercy Links, an Adelaide-based youth social justice group. After graduating with a Bachelor of International Relations and Law from the University of Adelaide she completed a 10-month internship in New York with Mercy Global Action, which has an advisory role on the United Nations Environmental and Social Council.
Catherine said for those looking for a way to support survivor-led initiatives, downloading the Walking in Dignity app was a simple but meaningful action.
