A few years ago, Glyzelle Palomar, a 12 year old girl, was begging for food on the streets of Northern Manila. This week, she was on a stage in front of thousands of people at a ceremony taken place at a 400 year old Catholic university in Manila. She asked Pope Francis why God lets children suffer in poverty like she once did. Glyzelle said "There are many children neglected by their own parents, there are also many who became victims and many terrible things happened to them like drugs or prostitution." She also stated "Why is God allowing such things to happen, even if it is not the fault of the children?" The Pope, breaking down into tears as she spoke.
There was another former street child, Jun Chura, that told Pope Francis about his struggle to survive without a home. "I was feeding myself with what I can find in the garbage," said Jun, 14. "I did not know where to go, and I was sleeping on the sidewalk.""When I was in the street, I witness also things I don't like, terrible things that happened to my companions in the street," Jun said. "I saw that they were taught how to steal, to kill also, and they have no respect anymore for the adults."
Pope Francis responded to Glyzelle's question and Jun's testimony by giving the two children a big hug. Pope Francis said "We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected," he told the crowd. "And we need to care for our young, not allowing them to be condemned to a life on the streets."
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