Pope reflects on ‘the promises we make to children’
October 14, 2015
Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the family, Pope Francis considered “the promises we make to our children by bringing them into the world.”
“The greatest of these is love; every child trusts that he or she will be loved and cared for,” the Pope said on October 14 to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, in the words of the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “When that promise is broken, the result is a ‘scandal’ which Jesus condemns, telling us that their angels in heaven stand in God’s presence (cf. Mt 18:10).”
“The Church too, in Baptism, makes promises to our children, promises to be kept by parents and the Christian community as a whole,” he continued. “In experiencing human love, each child comes to sense the presence of a God who loves children. It is important for us to foster this mysterious relationship by leaving room for God in their young lives.”
Pope Francis added:
Parents, in and through the love they show for their children, help them to appreciate their identity and uniqueness as sons and daughters of God. Jesus taught us to become like little children; in protecting our children, and protecting the family, may we keep the great promise which God has given to us in them, and through them, to our human family.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
