Advocating for the protection of children on International Missing Children’s Day
On International Missing Children’s Day, Pope Francis said, “It’s is a duty of everyone to protect children, especially those exposed to elevated risk of exploitation, trafficking and deviant conduct.”
The pope expressed the desire for civil and religious authorities to promote awareness and, thus, eliminate indifference toward children in crisis. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, more than 800,000 children are reported missing in the United States alone. Pope Francis invited those in attendance to pray that each missing child “might be restored to the affection of their loved ones.”
@Pontifex
May 20: “The firm commitment for human rights springs from an awareness of the unique and supreme value of each person.”
May 21: “Each one of us can be a bridge of encounter between diverse cultures and religions, a way to rediscover our common humanity.”
May 23: “In a broken world, to communicate with mercy means to help create closeness between the children of God.”
Praying for the victims in Syria
Pope Francis concluded a weekly General Audience with a prayer for the victims of the Syrian terrorist attacks, which killed more than 150 people. The pope exhorted the crowd to “pray to the merciful Father, to pray to the Madonna, that [God] might give eternal rest to the victims, and consolation to their families.”
The pope called for a conversion of those hearts which “sow death and destruction” before leading the crowd in a Hail Mary for the victims.