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PONTIFICIUM OPUS A SANCTA INFANTIA

 

THE POPE
AND CHILDREN

HOW CAN THE PROPOSAL MADE
TO CHILDREN TAKE ROOT IN THEM
UNLESS THEY MEET CHRIST REGULARLY ?

« With regard to catechesis for children and young people it is important to give them proper religious and moral education offering clear and sound elements of faith which help to nourishing an intense spiritual life – because even a child is capax Dei as the Church Fathers said –, sacramental progress and a worthy and happy life. To constitute the solid nucleus of life, catechetical formation should be accompanied by regular religious practice. How can the proposal made to children take root in them and how can Christ transform their being and acting from within unless they meet him regularly ? »

(His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Bishops of France, 20 February 2004)
 


WHO NEEDS TO BE DEFENDED AND PROTECTED MORE THAN A FRAIL AND DEFENCELESS CHILD?

« In my Lenten Message recalling Christ words “Whosoever receives one such child in my name receives me” (Mt 18, 5), I wanted to draw special attention to the difficult conditions in which so many of the world’s children live. Indeed who needs to be defended and protected more than a frail and defenceless little child?

The world of childhood is beset by many complex problems. I warmly hope that our solidarity will mean that proper care is given to these, the smallest of our brethren who are often left to themselves. This is a concrete way of expressing our Lenten resolve. »

(His Holiness Pope John-Paul II, Homily Ash Wednesday,
25 February 2004
)
 

DEAR CHILDREN,
SAY A PRAYER FOR ME

« Dear children and young people when you put the Infant Jesus in the Crib say a prayer for me and for the many people who turn to the Pope with their troubles. »

(His Holiness Pope John-Paul II to children present
for the blessing of statues of Baby Jesus, 14 December 2003
)


MAY CHILDREN ‘S CRY OF PAIN
NOT GO UNHEARD!

« In my Lenten Message this year I asked that children be put at the centre of the Christian communities’ attention. Many of them are victims of dangerous diseases, including tuberculosis and AIDS, many are deprived of education and go hungry. Starvation and malnutrition, aggravated by disconcerting gaps in health care continue to be the daily cause of death for many of these little ones whoa re even denied the minimum indispensable for their survival.

In some corners of the earth, especially in the poorest countries, children and adolescents are the victims of a terrible form of violence: they are enlisted to fight in the so-called forgotten wars. Indeed they suffer a doubly scandalous aggression: they are made victims of war and at the same time forced to play the lead in it, swept away in the hatred of adults. Stripped of everything, they see their future threatened by a nightmare difficult to dispel.

Our youngest “brothers and sisters” who suffer from hunger, war and diseases are launching an anguished appeal to the adult world. May their cry of pain not go unheard. Jesus reminds us: “Whosoever received one such child in my name receives me” " (Mt 18, 5).

The Lenten season spurs Christians to accept these words of the Gospel more generously in order to express them in courageous interventions for children at risk and abandoned.

May the Virgin Mother of God help children in difficulty and bring success to the efforts of all those who seek lovingly to alleviate their sufferings »

(His Holiness Pope John-Paul II, Angelus 28 March 2004)


“WHOSOEVER RECEIVES ONE SUCH CHILD
IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME” (Mt18,5)

« For this occasion I sent the Church a Message in which I especially wanted to remember children who are so often the innocent victims of the wickedness of others. The Church devotes special care to them because Christ himself told us « Whosoever receives one such child in my name receives me » (Mt 18, 5). May this season of the liturgical year become a more generous time of solidarity towards these little ones, especially those in the gravest danger and difficulties. »

(His Holiness Pope John-Paul II,
Angelus 29 February 2004
)


 

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