(VIDEO ONLY) Pope Francis is concluding his first cycle of catechesis about the family. He has spoken about mothers, fathers, and grandparents. During his general audience this week, the Pope reflected on children. He said that we must always bear in mind the condition of children. No one gave birth to themselves, the Pope said, they only received life. He stressed that adults should learn from the simplicity of children and concluded with a warning: A society without children is 'gray and sad.â?
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In our catechesis on the family, we now turn to children, who are a great gift for the Church and for our human family. I think of the many happy children I saw during my recent visit to Asia, but also of the countless children throughout our world who are living in poverty and need.
A society can be judged by the way it treats its children. Within our families, children remind us that from our earliest years we are dependent on others. We see this in Jesus himself, who was born a child in Bethlehem.
Children also remind us that we are always sons and daughters; rather than being in complete control of our lives, we never cease being radically dependent on others. They challenge us to see things with a simple, pure and trusting heart, to receive and to offer warmth and 'tendernessâ?, and to laugh and cry freely in response to the world around us. Jesus urges us to become like children, since Godâ??s Kingdom belongs to such as these (cf. Mt 18:3).
Let us welcome and treasure our children, who bring so much life, joy and hope to the world. How sad and bleak would our world be without them!
JRB/ATO
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