Pope Francis tells Colombia's youngest victims that
Jesus loves them
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| Pope Francis greets children at the Hogar San Jose home for orphans in Medellin, Colombia.- RV |
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ apostolic visits
always feature at least one event in a place of suffering, of solidarity, of
rebirth.
He always makes sure he spends some precious time with the
poorest and the weakest of the world, be they prisoners, disabled adolescents,
elderly people, slum-dwellers… In Medellin on Friday he
visited the community at Hogar
San José: a Jesuit-run home for orphaned children victims
of Colombia’s conflict.
The over 300 children cared for by the nuns, lay people and
volunteers of the Home come from across the ravaged nation. All of them carry
the wounds of violence and abuse.
One little girl, Claudia Yesenia, told the story of her own
suffering when – aged two - she was wounded and lost all when a rebel attack in
the San Carlos Antioquia area wiped out her entire community and most of her
family.
But she also told of her rebirth at the San José Home for
children where she was cherished and cared for and is being given an education
so that she too can, one day, offer care and love to children in need.
Pope Francis listened with attention, smiled and embraced
the children as he always does, and put everything else aside to be able to
enjoy their songs, their joy, their presence.
He told them that Jesus loves them more than anyone else and
that He protects them to make sure that they – who are the future of Colombian
society – may grow and be strengthened in wisdom and grace.
In this nation where nature is so lush and generous, where
the national flower is the sophisticated orchid, each child was holding a small
bouquet of little white daisies: the simplest and most humble of blossoms. Just
like those closest to Pope Francis’ own heart.
In Colombia with Pope Francis, I’m Linda Bordoni
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