EUROPE/SPAIN - Members of Holy Childhood Society pay a visit to the King and Queen: a group of little members of Holy Childhood tell Royals about their prayers, sacrifices and concrete acts of solidarity to help children in need

Madrid (Fides Service) -As part of celebrations in Spain to mark the 160th anniversary of the Pontifical Society Holy Childhood, a group of young members of the Society, accompanied by Archbishop Francisco Pérez González, who is National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain, and other people responsible for the Pontifical Mission Societies were received in a special audience by their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain on June 7 at Zarzuela Palace, Madrid. The King and Queen were anxious to know how the Holy Childhood Society in Spain is progressing and to hear from the children about their prayers, actions and sacrifices to help less fortunate children in need in many countries of the world. The first member of Holy Childhood in Spain was the Infanta, the Queen’s first born child. In fact it was Queen Isabella II who gave permission for the Society to be established in her country and sealed this permission by enrolling her own child as a daughter on 28 December 1852. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 7/6/2004; Righe 10; Parole 132)