“It is everyone’s duty to protect children, especially those who are exposed to a high risk of exploitation, trafficking, and deviant conduct”. Pope Francis made this appeal today before his greetings to the Italian-speaking pilgrims that traditionally mark the end of his Wednesday audience with the faithful. The appeal comes on the day the International Missing Children’s Day is commemorated internationally. Pope Francis expressed his hope that “civil and religious authorities might stir consciences and raise awareness, in order to avoid indifference in the face of children who are lone, exploited, and far from their families and their social context, children who cannot grow-up peacefully or look to the future with hope”. “I invite everyone to pray that each of them might be returned to the affection of their loved ones”, Pope Francis concluded.