EUROPE/ITALY: Sister Inês Paulo Albino: "The presence of children, wherever they are, should guide us to a change of perspective"

Thursday, 19 March 2026 childhood children human rights human promotion human life evangelization

ITALY

2026-03-19
EUROPE/ITALY: Sister Inês Paulo Albino: "The presence of children, wherever they are, should guide us to a change of perspective"

2026-02-28
Faith according to Joseph Ratzinger: “Like a child in his mother’s arms”

2026-02-27
The number of Italian "Fidei Donum" priests who leave on mission continues to decline

2026-02-14
“Hiraya,” the “certain hope” for the mission of Filipino Catholics in Rome

2026-02-11
“Perché nessuno cammini solo” (“So that no one walks alone”). Father Proserpio and Archbishop Sangalli speak about being close to people at the end of their lives

2026-01-22
Archbishop Sangalli at the funeral chamber of fashion designer Valentino Garavani for a moment of prayer and reflection together with family members

Trani (Agenzia Fides) - “The presence of children, wherever they are, should guide us to a change of perspective and encourage us not only to invest all our resources in them, but also to roll up our sleeves together with them and shape a future. Every child who comes to us brings a dream. And nothing is more human than trying to make that dream come true,” said Sister Inês Paulo Albino, ASC, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of Holy Childhood (POSI), whose patron saints include Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose feast day is celebrated on March 19.
Sister Inês spoke at a conference in Trani last week entitled "Children's rights are close to my heart". The occasion was the celebration of the third anniversary of the "Serafina Cinque" social center of the Cittadella Sanguis Christi in Trani, an organization managed and animated by the Congregation of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, which is dedicated to the protection of life, especially unborn life. The Center supports and accompanies couples facing difficult circumstances related to unfulfilled desires for children or unwanted pregnancies. Particular attention is paid to poor and disadvantaged women.
"As Secretary General of POSI and previously as a religious sister who worked with children for many years," explained Sister Albino, "I feel deep sorrow for the situation of children in all countries and societies where their rights are denied. This represents a terrible catastrophe for all of humanity."
The conference theme chosen by Sister Mimma Scalera, ASC, head of the "Cittadella Sanguis Christi," offered Sister Albino the opportunity to speak about her experiences over the past two years as General Secretary of POSI: "Since beginning my ministry, I have visited about ten countries and, through the virtual platform, have met many more people with very different circumstances. In Africa, Asia, and the Americas, I have seen children who were cared for and supported in every way by their parents; just as I have seen many who were abandoned. They often don't go to school, don't have enough to eat, and suffer from hunger. In Europe and North America, children have everything, yet are often dissatisfied; they are left to fend for themselves, have no points of reference, often experience loneliness and emotional distress, and talk more to strangers than to their parents."
In her presentation, Sister Inês Paulo Albino, briefly outlined the history and mission of POSI, recalling that each year POSI finances approximately 3,000 projects to offer children around the world the possibility to grow and love Jesus and learn about the Church's missionary work through missionary education programs for pre-school and school-aged children, and the promotion of life. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2026)