Children are the joy of the family and of society, said Pope Francis. They are a gift of God. There is a close link between parents and child thanks to their consanguinity. Continuation of the catechesis of Pope Francis about family, with P. Justolat E. Rafaralahimboa :
In the sight of God, we are all children: children, teenagers, young people, and those who are considered as adults because we all call God, Father when we cite the prayer that Jesus has taught us:" Our Father, Who are in heaven". Consequently, we must behave like children of God. All Christian have received this great gift of adoption as children with the baptism we received. Those who are called children, today, need the church, the society, and the nation as a family to take care of them as parents who support them.
In essence, there is a close link between the hope of a people and the harmony among generations. We must consider this carefully. There is a close link between the hope of a people and the harmony among generations. The joy of children causes the parents’ hearts to beat and reopens the future. Children are the joy of the family and of society. They are not a question of reproductive biology, nor one of the many ways to fulfill oneself, much less a possession of their parents... No. Children are a gift, they are a gift: understood? Children are a gift. Each one is unique and irreplaceable, and at the same time unmistakably linked to his/her roots.
In fact, according to God’s plan, being son and daughter means to carry within oneself the memory and hope of a love which was fulfilled in the very kindling of the life of another, original and new, human being. And for parents, each child is original, different, diverse. Allow me to share a family memory. I remember what my mother said about us — there were five of us: — “I have five children”. When they asked her: “Which one is your favourite”, she answered: “I have five children, like five fingers. [He displays his fingers] Should they strike this one, it hurts me; should they strike that one, it hurts me. All five hurt me. All are my children and all are different like the fingers of a hand”. And this is how a family is! The children are all different, but all children.
Series of catecheses of Pope Francis on the family- General Audience 11 February 2015
