Pope Leo XIV renews the Church’s call to place children at the heart of global concern, warning that despite international commitments, the situation of the world’s youngest remains deeply troubling.
Vatican News
Addressing the Organizing Committee of the initiative “From Crisis to Care: Catholic Action for Children,” Pope Leo XIV on Thursday encouraged participants as they continued the work begun at last year’s International Summit on Children’s Rights.
Born from the response to Pope Francis’ urgent call to safeguard the rights, dignity and well-being of children, the Catholic Action for Children Initiative is co-sponsored by Holy See institutions and religious unions with the participation of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and a range of religious congregations, and lay experts.
Working directly with children and families across five continents, it aims to culminate in a public action plan to support Church leaders, communities and partners, with the aim of ensuring that every child grows up in safe, nurturing family care supported by strong, coherent systems.
Tragic realities facing many children today
During the audience in the Vatican, the Pope expressed concern for the reality facing children and young people today, describing it as a tragedy “that the children and youth of our world, the ones Jesus wanted to come to him, are so often deprived of care and access to the basic necessities of life.”
Frequently, he added, they have “few opportunities for achieving their God-given potential,” and he noted that over the past year the situation has not improved.
“It is also of deep concern to learn of the lack of progress in protecting children from danger,” he said.
Questioning whether global priorities have shifted away from the most vulnerable, the Pope wondered whether “global commitments for sustainable development have been cast aside” as we see so many children who continue to live in extreme poverty, suffer abuse, are forcibly displaced, and lack education, while being “isolated or separated from their families.”
Recalling Pope Francis’ teaching, he reaffirmed the importance of the family, highlighting the child’s “right to receive love from a mother and a father; both are necessary for a child’s integral and harmonious development.”
Need for an integral approach
Turning to the work of the Committee, Pope Leo expressed appreciation for its commitment to developing concrete responses to the concerns raised at the Summit, and he identified two essential points for their mission.
First, he reminded them that they are “speaking on behalf of those who have no voice,” and he encouraged perseverance in the face of discouragement, failed initiatives, or indifference.
“Let the good you know you are doing carry you forward,” he said.
Secondly, the Pope reflected on the need to address the “transversal needs of children,” warning that these can be overlooked when care is limited to a single area.
He acknowledged the diverse charisms and specializations within Church structures and Catholic organizations but urged greater harmony and collaboration so that children receive care that is “well balanced” and attentive to their “physical, psychological, and spiritual welfare.”
Listen to children!
Upholding the support offered by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Union of Superiors General and the International Union of Superiors General, he called for the development of “concrete steps and action plans” to meet these shared responsibilities.
Most of all, Pope Leo recalled and emphasised Pope Francis’ insistence on listening to children, quoting the message presented to him at last year’s Summit: “Together with you, we want to cleanse the world of bad things, colour it with friendship and respect, and help you build a beautiful future for everyone!”
“We ask the Lord’s blessings upon all of you, and we remember in prayer especially children, especially those who suffer and do not have the basic needs with which to live,” the Pope concluded.
