‘The love of God never leaves us,’ Pope tells at-risk children
June 02, 2014
Five hundred children identified by the Italian education ministry as being at risk of dropping out of school traveled to Rome and met with Pope Francis on May 31.
The meeting took place under the auspices of the Pontifical Council of Culture’s “Courtyard of the Gentiles of Children” initiative.
In his conversation with the nine- and ten-year-olds, who presented him with dirt from the catacombs, Pope Francis spoke about the darkness of the dirt being brought to the light.
He added:
When the Apostle John, who was such a good friend of Jesus, wanted to say who God is, do you know what he said? “God is love.”
“God is love. And we go forward together toward the light to find the love of God. But is the love of God within us, even in moments of darkness? Is the love of God hidden there? Yes, always! The love of God never leaves us. It is always with us. Let us have faith in this love.
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Further information:
- Parole del Santo Padre Francesco ai bambini che partecipano all’iniziativa "Il Treno dei Bambini" promosso dal Pontificio Consiglio della Cultura (Holy See Press Office)
- Pope Francis to school children: The light gives us joy and hope (Vatican Radio)
- The Pope on the Children's Train (VIS)
- Children's Train "Diggers Of Light" (Pontifical Council for Culture)
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