Pope Francis made an appeal for children to be returned to their families at his weekly general audience on Wednesday, which is International Missing Children's Day. He invited the faithful to pray that "each of them (missing children) might be restored to the affection of their loved ones".
He also highlighted the plight of many children in critical situations.
"It is a duty of everyone to protect children, especially those exposed to elevated risk of exploitation, trafficking, and deviant conduct," he said.
"(I hope) civil and religious authorities might stir consciences and raise awareness, in order to avoid indifference in the face of children on their own, exploited children, and children far from their families and their social context, children who cannot grow-up peacefully or look with hope to the future".
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