A society that doesn’t want children is ‘sad and gray,’ Pope says

Last updated on: March 18, 2015 at 11:36 am by CNA Daily News

A society that doesn’t want children is ‘sad and gray,’ Pope says 2015-03-18T11:36:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Mar 18, 2015 / 05:36 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that children are a joy-filled gift for the Church and the world, and cautioned against an overcast society that lacks life because it has rejected and run out of children.

“Children give life, joy and hope. They also give worries and sometimes problems, but this is better than a society that is sad and gray because it has run out of children. Or doesn't want children,” the Pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his March 18 general audience.

It is the second time Francis has spoken about children in his general audiences this year. On Feb. 11, he told pilgrims that a society which is “not surrounded by children, that considers them a problem, a burden, has no future.”

On that occasion he also spoke of how children are a gift, calling them “the joy of family and society.”

Children, he said, “are not a problem of reproductive biology, or one of many ways to realize oneself in life. Let alone their parent’s possession. Children are a gift. Do you understand? Children are a gift!” and went on to talk about the free aspect of love they bring to the world.

In today’s audience, Francis reiterated what a “great gift” children are, and said that their weakness and fragility is a reminder for everyone that we are always dependent on others.

“A society can be judged by the way it treats its children,” he said, explaining that they make us realize that “all of us are always children, in need of help, love and forgiveness, which are the conditions in order to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Francis noted that children also help to “dismantle the idea of believing we are autonomous and self-sufficient.”

In his birth, Jesus himself reminds of how we have all at one point in time been totally dependent on the care of others, the Pope said, noting that in his ministry, Jesus gave special praise to the “little ones” who need help, especially children.

Another reminder children give is that we are always sons and daughters, and that as we age, rather than being in “complete control” of our lives, “we never cease being radically dependent on others,” Francis said.

Children “challenge us to see things with a simple, pure and trusting heart, to receive and to offer warmth and tenderness and to laugh and cry freely in response to the world around us,” which is something that can often be “blocked” in the elderly, he noted.

Francis closed his audience by recalling how Jesus, in the Gospel of Mark, beckons the children to come to him, saying that we must all become like a little children in order enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Let us welcome and treasure our children, who bring so much life, joy and hope to the world. How sad and bleak would our world be without them!”

After finishing his speech Pope Francis offered personal greetings to groups of pilgrims present from various countries around the world, including Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Philippines, Canada, the United States of America, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Argentina.

Vatican

Previous Post

March 18, 2015

For Archbishop Chaput, religious liberty means more than you may think

Next Post

March 18, 2015 Three laypersons among saints' causes advanced by Pope Francis

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary legal document in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Scroll Land deed Tablet Contract