St. Josephine Bakhita (c. 1869–1947) was a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Catholic nun and was later canonized as a saint. Born in the Darfur region of Sudan, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders as a young girl and endured years of brutal slavery. Her captors gave her the name "Bakhita," meaning "fortunate" in Arabic, though her early life was anything but.

Eventually, she was sold to an Italian diplomat and taken to Italy, where she gained her freedom through a legal battle. She was placed under the care of the Canossian Sisters in Venice, where she converted to Christianity and was baptized in 1890, taking the name Josephine. She later joined the Canossian Daughters of Charity, dedicating her life to prayer, service, and kindness.

Bakhita became known for her deep faith, humility, and compassion, inspiring many with her story of endurance and forgiveness. She spent over 50 years in religious life, serving the poor and sick. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 2000, making her the first saint from Sudan. Today, she is venerated as the patron saint of human trafficking survivors, symbolizing hope and redemption.