Pope says anyone who exploits or abuses a child answers to God

The Pope gave his first catechism lesson of 2025 (AP)

Pope Francis has denounced the “scourge” of child labour and other abuses suffered by children, saying anyone who harms or exploits a child will have to answer to God.

Francis dedicated his first catechism lesson of 2025 to the plight of children, telling his weekly general audience that the faithful cannot remain indifferent to the problem of child labour.