BY Daniel Harkins | April 8 | 
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Children are never a mistake, Pope says
The Holy Father focused on the plight of hungry and vulnerable children during his weekly general audience
Pope Francis believes that children are never a mistake despite the world of hunger and poverty many are born into.
The Pope told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square that the suffering of children are ‘only reasons for us to love them even more,’ continuing his catechetical series on the family during his weekly general audience this morning.
“I wish to focus our attention on the suffering which many children are experiencing,” he told pilgrims from across the world. “From the first moments of their lives, some are rejected, abandoned, and robbed of their infancy and future. There are those who say it is a mistake to bring these children into the world, due to their fragility, and the hunger and poverty they suffer. But children are never a mistake, and their sufferings are only reasons for us to love them even more.”
“Every child who begs on the streets, who is denied an education or medical care, is a cry to God,” the Holy Father continued. “Too often, these children become prey to criminals, who exploit them for commerce or violence. Even in wealthy countries, they suffer due to family crises and living conditions which are at times inhumane.
“In every case, their childhood is violated in body and soul. How did Jesus respond to the children and their parents who brought them to him: ‘Let the children come to me… for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’ (Mt 19:14).
The Pope said the trust of parents and the response of Jesus was beautiful, and stressed that there are many extraordinary parents who daily make sacrifices for their children.
“The Church offers her maternal care to all children and their families, and she brings them the blessing of Jesus,” he added. “May we always care for our children, not counting the cost, so that they may never believe themselves to be mistakes, but always know their infinite worth.”
Pic: Above, internally displaced children eat inside a tent in Aleppo, Syria, late last year. Christians cannot follow Jesus while turning away from people who are hungry, Pope Francis said
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