Pope to Organize Conference on Modern Slavery

Pope Francis will call a conference in November to discuss an "action plan" against human trafficking and modern slavery, Vatican radio reported on Thursday.

Two pontifical academies and a federation of Catholic medical workers will take part in the meeting on November 2 and 3 in the Vatican, it said.

In an Easter message shortly after his election earlier this year, Francis said human trafficking was "the most widespread form of 21st century slavery".

He has referred to the issue several times, railing against particular aspects of the problem like forced domestic work, prostitution and child labor.