Vatican City, Dec 2, 2013 / 11:24 am
Pope Francis is bringing this year to a close by offering special prayers during the month of December for children who are victims of violence, and imploring Christians to prepare for the coming of Christ.
Each month this year has been dedicated to specific prayer intentions of the Holy Father, one general intention and one missionary intention.
The general intention concluding the year of 2013, as published earlier this year in the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, is "That children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need."
His missionary intention, which centers more specifically on the faithful's response to the season of Advent, is "That Christians, enlightened by the Word incarnate, may prepare humanity for the Savior's coming."