In today’s audience in the Paul VI Hall, Bergoglio began 2025 with the first of two catechesis dedicated to the little ones. He condemned the plague of child labor, exploitation and abuse: “May every boy and girl grow up receiving and giving love.” After the Epiphany, the invitation to “reflect the light with one’s own life.”
Vatican City () – Two catechisms dedicated to children and the “plague of humiliated, exploited, mortally wounded childhood.” The year 2025 begins with the little ones in mind, starting with this morning’s general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican, while St. Peter’s Square was invaded by a thick fog. “Today we know how to look towards Mars or towards virtual worlds, but it is difficult for us to look into the eyes of a child who has been left out and who is being exploited and mistreated.” Motivated by these premises, the Pontiff made us reflect on why the “century that generates artificial intelligence and designs multiplanetary existences” actually ignores the rights of children.
“Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; to those who are like them belongs the kingdom of God” (Mk 10:14), are the famous words of reproach that Jesus addressed to his disciples at the time of his public life. Today’s catechesis, read at the opening of the audience after reading the reference passage (Lk 18:15-17), began with a question: “What message does the Holy Scripture give us about children?” There were many children present in the Nervi Classroom. Pope Francis pointed out that after the word “Jahweh”, the most recurring word in the Bible is “bet”, which means “son” (almost 5,000 occurrences). «Children are a gift from God. Unfortunately, this gift is not always treated with respect. The Bible itself takes us to the streets of history where songs of joy resonate, but the cries of the victims also rise,” he said.
He cited, as an example of painful episodes, the massacre of the children in Bethlehem ordered by Herod – “a dark drama that is repeated in other ways in history,” said Bergoglio – and the flight of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, who become in “refugees in a foreign country, as is also the case today with so many people, with so many children.” Other times Jesus mentioned children to share teachings. The same children who today are often “forced to work” and are, therefore, victims of the “plague of child labor”, which does not allow them to let their talents germinate. «In all parts of the earth there are children exploited by an economy that does not respect life; an economy that, in doing so, burns our greatest reserve of hope and love,” are the harsh words of Pope Francis, who this morning seemed frozen, with his voice a little fatigued.
“You cannot remain indifferent.” Bergoglio finally addressed these words to every Christian, to those who “recognize themselves as children of God”, and who therefore carry out the service of bringing the “good news of the Gospel” to others in the world. “He cannot accept that little sisters and brothers, instead of being loved and protected, are robbed of their childhood, of their dreams, victims of exploitation and marginality,” he added. “Let us ask the Lord to open our minds and hearts to care and tenderness, and that all the children of the world grow in age, wisdom and grace, receiving and giving love,” was the prayer with which the catechesis concluded.
At the end of the audience, bringing greetings to the faithful and the Italian-speaking pilgrims, Pope Francis invited each believer to reflect in their own existence the grace received in the Christmas and Epiphany celebrations that have just concluded. “The Church invites each baptized person, after having worshiped the glory of God in the Word made flesh, to reflect the light with his or her own life.” And again words of prayer for peace were shared with those present. «Let us not forget the tormented Ukraine, let us not forget Nazareth, Israel. Let’s not forget all the countries at war. Let us pray for peace. And let us not forget that war is always, always, a defeat.
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