Pope Leo XIV has voiced serious concern that global efforts to protect children are falling short, warning that the situation facing the world’s most vulnerable young people “has not improved during the past year,” despite international promises and renewed attention to children’s rights.
Speaking Thursday to the organizing committee of the initiative From Crisis to Care: Catholic Action for Children, the Holy Father reflected on proposals emerging from the International Summit on Children’s Rights convened last year under Pope Francis. According to EWTN News, Pope Leo described the ongoing crisis as a moral tragedy that demands sustained and coordinated action.
“It is indeed a tragedy that the children and youth of our world, the ones Jesus wanted to come to him, are so often deprived of care and access to the basic necessities of life,” the pope said. He added that many children “frequently have few opportunities for achieving their God-given potential,” underscoring that global conditions for children have not meaningfully improved.
Pope Leo questioned whether international commitments have been quietly abandoned, pointing to the lived reality of millions of children worldwide. “One must question whether global commitments for sustainable development have been cast aside when we see in our global human family that so many children still live in extreme poverty, suffer abuse, and are forcibly displaced,” he said, noting as well that many lack proper education or are separated from their families.
An Urgent Message from Sister Sara – Please Watch
In his remarks, the pope reaffirmed Catholic teaching on the family, recalling Pope Francis’ words in Amoris Laetitia regarding a child’s fundamental need for both parents. He cited the child’s “right to receive love from a mother and a father; both are necessary for a child’s integral and harmonious development,” while urging continued defense of “the profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished and of the family as its responsible guardian,” according to EWTN News.
Pope Leo expressed gratitude to those working on behalf of children, acknowledging both their dedication and the discouragement that can arise when progress seems slow. “First, you are speaking on behalf of those who have no voice. This is a truly noble task,” he told participants. He encouraged them to persevere despite “failed initiatives” or a “seeming lack of interest,” saying, “Let the good you know you are doing carry you forward.”
The Holy Father also emphasized the importance of addressing children’s “transversal needs,” warning that focusing on a single issue can leave other essential aspects of a child’s well-being overlooked. He called for greater collaboration among those with different charisms and areas of expertise so that care for children remains balanced and holistic, taking into account their “physical, psychological, and spiritual welfare,” according to the report.
Noting the involvement of multiple Vatican bodies and religious superiors’ unions, Pope Leo urged the committee to move forward with “concrete steps and action plans” that respond to children’s real and interconnected needs.
He concluded by echoing Pope Francis’ insistence that children themselves must be heard. Recalling a message delivered to Francis during last year’s summit, the pope shared the hopeful words addressed to the Church: “Together with you, we want to cleanse the world of bad things, color it with friendship and respect, and help you build a beautiful future for everyone!”
The Holy Father’s remarks serve as both a warning and a call to conscience, reminding Catholics that protecting children is not a temporary initiative, but a permanent responsibility at the heart of the Church’s mission.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
