Pope to Children of Catholic Action: Imitate Zacchaeus

'He always speaks to you of the 'greater love', capable of giving itself unlimitedly and of bringing peace and forgiveness.'

VATICAN CITY (VIS) - Children from Italian Catholic Action were received Saturday morning by Benedict XVI who, in his address to the group,compared them to the Gospel figure of Zacchaeus who climbed a tree in order to see Jesus.

"You too", he told his audience, "are small like Zacchaeus" whom "the Lord, raising His eyes, saw amidst the throng. Jesus sees and hears you too,even though your are small, even though sometimes adults do not consider you as you would wish".

"Imitate the example of Zacchaeus who immediately descended from the tree and welcomed Jesus into his house with great joy and feasting.

"Welcome Him into your lives every day, into your games and your work, into your prayers,when He asks your friendship and your generosity, when you are happy and when you are afraid. ...

"He always speaks to you of the 'greater love', capable of giving itself unlimitedly and of bringing peace and forgiveness".

"Thus", the Holy Father concluded, "you will be able to tell your friends,parents and teachers that you have managed to establish a contact with Jesus", also as "you stand alongside the many boys and girls who are suffering, especially those from faraway countries who are often abandoned, without parents or friends".