In his message for the first World Children’s Day, Pope Francis lamented this Saturday that many children are “cruelly deprived of their childhood”, victims of war, poverty or drugs.
The leader of the Catholic Church spoke directly to the world’s children in a message for the event, which will take place in Rome for the first time on May 25 and 26 in the style of World Youth Day (WYD).
“Don’t forget how many of you, even if you are so small, are already struggling with illness and hardship, in hospital or at home, those who have been victims of war and violence, those who are hungry and thirsty, those who live on the streets those who are forced to be soldiers or refugees, separated from their parents, those who cannot go to school, those who are victims of criminal gangs, drugs or other forms of slavery and abuse,” he told Francisco.