As the year ends, remember the many men and women who are living in inhumane conditions or who are suffering from addiction – and recall that Christ came into the world to bring love, justice, peace, and freedom, Pope Francis said on Monday.

“God the Father sent his Only Son into the world to eradicate from the heart of man the long-standing slavery of sin, and thus restore his dignity,” the pope said December 31.

“And now we must stop,” he continued, “stop and reflect with pain and repentance because, even during this year that draws to a close, so many men and women have lived and do live in conditions of slavery unworthy of human beings.”