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Pope Francis’ General Audience
Audience Hall = Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Catechesis. The most beloved of the Father. 2
Matthew 18:1-6
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In the last audience we talked about children, and today we will also talk about children.
Last week we focused on how Jesus repeatedly spoke in his ministry of the importance of protecting, welcoming and loving the little ones.
But, even today in the world, hundreds of millions of minors are forced to work, even though they have not reached the minimum age for the responsibility of adulthood.
Many of them are exposed to particularly dangerous work; not to mention the boys and girls who are enslaved to trafficking for prostitution or pornography, and forced marriages.
And this is rather bitter.
Unfortunately, there are many ways in which children are abused and mistreated in our societies,.
Child abuse, in whatever form, is a despicable act, it is a abominable act.
It is not just a blight on society, no, it is a crime!
And it is a gross violation of God’s commandments.
No child should be abused. Even one case is too many.
It is therefore necessary to awaken our consciences, to practice closeness and true solidarity with abused children and young people, and at the same time to build trust and synergies between those who are committed to offering them opportunities and safe places where they can grow up in serenity.
I know of a country in Latin America, where a special fruit grows, very special fruit called arándano [a type of cranberry]. Harvesting the arándano requires delicate hands, and they make children do it, they enslave them as children to pick it.
Widespread poverty, the lack of social support for families, the increase om marginalation in recent years, along with unemployment and job insecurity are factors that make the youngest pay the highest price.
In the big cities, where the social divisions and moral decay “bite”, there are children involved in drug rafficking and all kinds of illegal activities.
How many of these children have we seen fall victim!
Sometimes tragically, they are led to become “executioners” of their peers, as well as damaging themselves, their dignity and their humanity.
And yet, when on the street, in the neighborhood of the parish, when these lives are lost before our eyes, we often look the other way.
There is also a case in my country: a boy called Loan has been kidnapped and his whereabouts are unknown. And one of the theories is that he was sent to have his organs removed, for transplants.
And this happens, as you well know. This happens! Some return with a scar, others die.
This is why today I would like to remember this boy called Loan.
It pains us to recognize the social injustice that drives two children, perhaps living in the same neighborhood or apartment block, to follow diametrically opposed paths and destinies because one of them was born into a disadvantaged family.
There is an unacceptable human and social divide: between those who can dream and those who must succumb.
But Jesus wants us all to be free and happy; and if He loves every man and woman as His son and daughter, He loves the little ones with all the tenderness of His heart.
That is why he asks us to stop and listen to the suffering of the voiceless, the uneducated.
Fighting exploitation, especially the exploitation of children, is the way to build a better future for the whole of society.
Some countries have had the wisdom to put children’s rights in writing.
Children have rights. Look yourselves on the internet to find out what children’s rights are.
And so, we can ask ourselves: what can we do?
First of all, we must recognize that, if we want to eradicate child labor, we cannot be complicit in it.
And when are we complicit? For example, when we purchase products that involve child labor.
How can we eat and wear clothes, knowing that behind that food and those garments there are exploited children, who work instead of going to school? Find out where those products come from.
Being aware of what we buy is a first step to not being complicit.
Some will say that there is not much we can do as individuals.
This is true, but each of us can be a drop that, together with many other drops, can make a sea.
But institutions, including church institutions, and companies must also be reminded of their responsibility: they can make a difference by shifting their investments to companies that do not use or permit child labor.
Many countries and international organizations have already enacted laws and policies against child labor, but more can be done.
I also urge journalists – there are some journalists here – to play their part.
They can help raise awareness of the problem and help in finding solutions.
Do not be afraid, denounce, denounce these things.
I thank all those who do not turn away when they see children forced to grow up too soon.
Let us always remember the words of Jesus: “Whatever you did for one of these least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).
St. Teresa of Calcutta, a joyful laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, was a mother to the most disadvantaged and forgotten girls and boys.
With the tenderness and attentiveness of her gaze, she can guide us to see the invisible little ones, the too many slaves of a world that we cannot abandon to its injustices.
Because the happiness of the weakest builds the peace of all.
And with Mother Theresa, let us give voice to the children:
“I ask for a safe place – where I can play.
I ask for a smile = From someone who knows how to love.
I ask for the right to be a child, to be the hope Of a better world.
I ask to be able to grow as a person. Can I count on you?’ (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)
Summary of the Holy Father’s words:
Dear brothers and sisters:
In our continuing catechesis on children, we now turn to their welfare.
Jesus, who loves everyone as a child of God, has a special concern for the smallest, considering that whatever is done to them is done to himself.
Responding to the needs of the little ones is therefore a serious moral obligation..
Today, many children living in poverty are forced to work, while other children suffer from abuse or maltreatment or turn to drugs or gangs.
As individuals and as a society, we are called to take concrete action.
For example, we can avoid buying products from or investing in companies that exploit child labor.
We can also look to the example of Mother Teresa who invited us to help children grow as persons, in safety and love, that they might become the hope of a better future.
Will we do our part?
