Pope Francis strongly condemned the “scourge” of child labor and other abuses suffered by children during his first catechism lesson of 2025. He emphasized that anyone who harms or exploits a child will be held accountable by God. The pontiff dedicated the lesson to the plight of children, stressing that the faithful cannot turn a blind eye to the problem of child labor.
Highlighting the special place children hold in God’s heart, Francis urged for action to address the issue of child labor. He has consistently spoken out against child labor, particularly during his foreign trips. In a visit to Congo in 2023, the pope denounced the exploitation of children by foreign powers and mining interests, describing it as a form of plundering driven by greed.
During his general audience, the pope also drew attention to the various challenges faced by children worldwide, including hunger, disasters, diseases, and conflicts. He called for concrete measures to prevent and condemn any form of abuse suffered by minors.
While Francis did not explicitly mention the sexual abuse of children by priests, a long-standing scandal within the Catholic Church, he reiterated the need to protect children from all forms of harm.
Despite sounding congested and skipping parts of his prepared speech, the 88-year-old pope found joy in a performance by CircAfrica, an African-themed circus troupe. The group entertained him with acrobatics, robot-operated puppet elephants, jugglers, and dancers on rollerskates in the Vatican auditorium.
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