Fr. Lombardi editorial: "What will become of this child?"
In his weekly editorial, Father Federico Lombardi recalls Pope Benedict's concern
for the plight of children throughout the world, expressed during the Holy Father's
recent Apostolic Voyage to Benin. Lombardi speaks about the tremendous work of the
Church on behalf of children, and notes especially the efforts of women in this field.
What
will become of this child? “What will become of this child?” The Gospel
relates that this is the question on the lips of friends and relatives at the birth
of the young John, who will be known as the Baptist. It is also the question that
we all ask when we contemplate the wonder of a child coming into the world. And in
that question there is hope, but also a certain concern.
It is the question
we asked at the Pope’s meeting with children two weeks ago – certainly the most wonderful
and moving moment of the entire visit to Benin – with the elderly Pontiff surrounded
by delightful little children dancing and holding his hand.
The synodal document
brought to Africa by the Pope enumerates, in a striking passage, some of the “intolerable
treatment inflicted on so many children”: “children killed before birth, unwanted
children, orphans, albinos, street children, abandoned children, child soldiers, child
prisoners, children forced into labour, children ill-treated on account of physical
or mental handicap, children said to be witches or warlocks, children sold as sex
slaves, traumatized children without any future prospects…” The Church knows she must
work for all of these children. Of the more than 125,000 health institutions and charities
headed by the Church in the world, over 20,000 are specifically dedicated to children;
many others are dedicated to education, or to the rescue of children from a life on
the streets or other difficulties. On the occasion of a recent international conference
on the protection of children from sexual abuse, the intervention of Monsignor Scicluna
– with its “Decalogue” of clear and firm principles on how to protect children –
was well received. And it is fair to remember the valuable and generous efforts
of so many women, religious and lay, in this field. This is certainly one of the most
wonderful – and beneficial – ways in which women serve humanity and the Church. In
this time of Advent and Christmas, which is especially the Christ child, these are
spontaneous reflections: we have every reason to continue to be in the front line
on these frontiers. Listen: