Like a concerned grandfather checking in on his grandkids, Pope Francis appears on screen after dramatized images of children on the verge of tears. There’s undefined thumping and sobbing in the background. Perhaps it’s a case of domestic violence.
Clearly, there are many families in crisis, and the pope wants us to know that he knows.
More importantly, perhaps, he wants us to follow his lead in praying that “families in need may receive the necessary support and that children may grow up in healthy and peaceful environments.”
That’s one of his prayer intentions for the month of March, the other being for that larger family called the Church: “that those Christians who, on account of their faith, are discriminated against or are being persecuted may remain strong and faithful to the Gospel, thanks to the incessant prayer of the Church.”
In the third installment of a monthly series of short videos, Francis is urging Christians to support families in need so that children are raised in “healthy and peaceful environments.”
Speaking in Spanish, the pope reflects on the theme: “The family is one of the most precious assets of humanity. But is it not perhaps the most vulnerable?”
“When a family is exposed to economic, health, or other difficulties, the children grow up in an environment of sadness,” the pope added.
The video is a minute and a half long — and quite moving. Take a look.
And today we celebrate...