Pope Francis seeks to raise awareness of victimization of child soldiers

(Vatican, December 1, 2016). The Pope Video has released its 12th edition, thus completing a full season of monthly videos on the challenges facing humanity. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network presents “Child Soldiers,” a cause Pope Francis has taken up with this prayer intention: “That nowhere in the world would there be child soldiers.”

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“In this world, which has developed the most sophisticated technologies, weapons are sold that end up in the hands of child soldiers.” As we’ve seen in the past, Francis again forcefully transmits his message, this time urging the world to reflect on a reality that is placing the present and future of many children at risk.

https://youtu.be/lDtvXAzKNj0

The publication of this intention, like those of every month, has been entrusted to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, so that people may become aware of the urgent need to pray and act. The mission of The Pope Video is to share these intentions with the greatest number of people possible, and thus drive real change.

The UN defines a child soldier as any person below 18 years of age who is, or who has been, recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including as fighters, cooks, porters, spies or for sexual purposes. According to a report from UNICEF, it is estimated there are some 300,000 boys and girls under the age of 18 who are participating in more than 30 conflicts around the world.

About The Pope Video
The Pope Video is a global initiative developed by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) to disseminate the monthly intentions of the Holy Father concerning the challenges facing humanity. The videos seek to unite people in praying with Pope Francis for those challenges. The Project has the support of the Vatican Television Center (CTV), sole owner of the rights. For more information: www.thepopevideo.org.

About the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer)
For over a century, the Apostleship of Prayer has been publishing to the world the prayer intentions entrusted to them by popes. Now, in its process of recreation, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network emphasizes its role of communicating the prayer intentions and leveraging new media and tools. Its mission is to unite people in prayer and service in response to the challenges facing humanity which the Holy Father expresses in his monthly intentions. Those who participate in this network are encouraged to become apostles in daily life through a spiritual path called "Way of the Heart," transforming those who take that path in the service of the mission of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1844 and present in over 100 countries, the Apostleship of Prayer unites more than 35 million people in its network, including its youth branch, the Eucharistic Youth Movement. For more information: www.popesprayer.net.