Three Christian families in Pakistan have been freed from bondage by an Argentine priest and a young layman who recently returned from Spain.
According to CNA, Father Rico, a priest with the Order of St. Elias in Argentina, paid the equivalent of $1,700 to liberate three Christian families from debt bondage.
Father Rico went to Pakistan with the sole purpose of freeing Christian slaves who are suffering under bondage. He brought about $3,000 to pay for their liberation.
Father Rico and the Spaniard Diego flew to Pakistan last year, and they were able to free 200 people from bondage. In 2025, they liberated 110 Christian slaves.
According to a United Nations report, 3.5–5 billion people in Pakistan are engaged in forced labor. According to MinorityRights.org, there are approximately 3 million to 5 million Christians in Pakistan — almost 2% of Pakistan’s total population of 242 million. The majority of the slaves are engaged in brickmaking.
Father Rico explained that the debts charged against Christian slaves are fabricated by the businessmen involved in brickmaking, who keep them in bondage through threats and violence.
He recalled that, thanks to the supporters and their prayers, 11 people — three families — were rescued from servitude. On the very day they were released from bondage, he was able to administer the sacraments, including baptism. It was, he said, a day of dual liberation.
According to OpenDoors.org, Christians are disproportionately impacted by Pakistan’s blasphemy regulations, which are based on Islamic sharia law. The organization reported that about one-quarter of all blasphemy accusations are directed at Christians, and such charges can carry the death penalty.
To assist Christians in need, Fr. Rico has launched a project called PaX — meaning “peace” and “Pakistan Christendom” — in collaboration with the Order of St. Elias. Diego is the project manager.
Diego explained that the projects they launched are still in progress. They are varied and designed with careful consideration for the abilities and traumatic experiences of the people they serve. The goal is to help the freed slaves make a living within the PaX community through work in construction, agriculture, livestock care, and the production of building materials.
The project is in phase one, and it still has a long way to go as they take the first steps toward laying the foundation of Pakistani Christianity.