The pontiff told organizers of a Vatican-backed initiative that global crises are still leaving many children in extreme poverty.
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PopeLeoXIVonThursdayvoiceddeepconcernata“lackofprogressinprotectingchildrenfromdanger”ashemetwiththeorganizingcommitteeoftheinitiative“FromCrisistoCare:CatholicActionforChildren.”
Addressingparticipantsgatheredtoadvanceproposalsstemmingfromlastyear’sInternationalSummitonChildren’sRights,convenedbyPopeFrancis,Leosaid:“Itisindeedatragedythatthechildrenandyouthofourworld,theonesJesuswantedtocometohim,aresooftendeprivedofcareandaccesstothebasicnecessitiesoflife.”
Headdedthatchildren“frequentlyhavefewopportunitiesforachievingtheirGod-givenpotential”andwarnedthatthesituation“hasnotimprovedduringthepastyear.”
“Onemustquestionwhetherglobalcommitmentsforsustainabledevelopmenthavebeencastasidewhenweseeinourglobalhumanfamilythatsomanychildrenstillliveinextremepoverty,sufferabuse,andareforciblydisplaced,nottomentionthattheylackpropereducationandareisolated
