The Vatican’s point-man on missionary outreach, and also one of Asia’s most important Church figures, says Europe is becoming a “mission territory."

Catholics striving to bring greater justice and hope to the world need to see the suffering people around them, stop to help and be open to continual conversion, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis on Wednesday praised the “spontaneity and freedom” of children after a young boy approached him during his weekly general audience and motioned that he wanted the pope’s white skullcap.