MANILA, Philippines - "Why do so many children have to suffer?"
Speaking to thousands of young people at the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, Pope Francis said people should reflect on the question, urging them not to be indifferent to abuses and sacrifices of children.
The pope's message came after he heard the testimony of former street children Jun Chura, 14 and Glyzelle Iris Palomar, 12.
Chura described to the Roman Pontiff his life as a homeless child who witnessed abuses to children, who reacted to their circumstances by resorting to crime and drugs.
Her turn to read her message, Palomar wept while asking the pope: "Bakit po pumapayag ang Diyos na ay ganitong nangyayari. Kahit walang kasalanan ang mga bata. At bakit kaunti lamang ang mga taong tumutulong sa amin."
Palomar was telling the pope how other street children fall into drugs and prostitution.
The Holy Father said people have to learn how to weep, as this is a mark of compassion with others and of their faith.
"We need to ask ourselves, have we learned how to weep, how to cry, for somebody left to one side, for someone who has a drug problem?" Pope Francis said, addressing the thousands of Filipino youth during a Mass at the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday morning.
"Do we weep when a child takes drugs? Do we weep when a child is forced into labor? Do we weep when a child is abused?" the pope said.
He added: "If you don't learn how to cry, you can't be good Christians. This is a challenge."