Vatican highlights plight of world's children on Epiphany

Published: 2004-01-06

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Celebrating its annual world missionary day for children, the Vatican highlighted forms of suffering that continue to plague young people in many countries -- including hunger, disease and exploitation. About 200 million children go to bed hungry every night, 211 million under age 14 work instead of going to school, and an estimated 13 million under age 5 die each year from easily preventable diseases, according to a report published by the Vatican's missionary news agency, Fides. The report coincided with the Jan. 6 celebration of the feast of the Epiphany, when the church gives special attention to the situation of children around the world. The Holy Childhood Association, one of four pontifical mission societies, finances and supports some 4,000 projects aiding the neediest children, including AIDS sufferers in Africa, street children in Latin America and Asia, and child soldiers in several countries.

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