On Epiphany, pope assures world's children of his prayers

Published: 2005-01-06

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II reached out to the world's children who suffer from the ravages of war, hunger, disease and exploitation, assuring them that his prayers were with them. Before reciting the Angelus Jan. 6 on the feast of the Epiphany, the pope said he also continued to pray "for the small victims" of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis that hit South and Southeast Asia and parts of East Africa. Thousands of the faithful surrounded the Vatican's life-size Nativity scene and towering Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square to hear the pope's noonday address, which he dedicated to children and young people. "I cannot forget the child victims of hunger and disease, of war and terrorism, as well as children who have been kidnapped, who are missing or exploited for reprehensible trade," he said.

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