The Mission Intention of the Holy Father for the Month of December

(December 01, 2011) That children and young people may be messengers of the Gospel and that they may be respected and preserved from all violence and exploitation.
According to Pope Benedict XVI in every child we see something of the Child of Bethlehem. He regretted that many in the world do not see Christ in every child. They fail to see the human dignity in them as they do not recognise the presence of Jesus. The Pontiff wants to pray specially for children who are denied the love of their parents, for street children who do not have the blessing of a family home, for children who are brutally exploited as soldiers, and for children who are victims of the industry of pornography and every other appalling form of abuse. Pope Benedict called for the safety of every child saying that only through a genuine conversion of persons and through a change in the depths of our hearts, can the cause of all this evil be over-come. Jesus was always close to the children. He blessed children and pointed to them as an example of how to receive the Kingdom of God. During the month of December we join the Holy Father in praying for conversion and change of heart. We pray that all children and young people may be respected and preserved. Part of our respect for children is the recognition of the essential role they play in spreading the Gospel. In fulfilling this task the Pope asks them to pray, listen to Jesus, share with others, and help people who are disagreeable and thus make the Gospel a reality in our world.