“Like Jesus, we want to put children at the center and care for them.”

These words, spoken by Pope Francis, who died a month ago today, revealed his tender heart for children and his dedication to the most vulnerable among us.

An important and well-known part of Pope Francis’ legacy is prioritizing a culture of care within the Catholic Church for the most vulnerable.

But perhaps less recognized is how he made the care and protection of children a central focus of his pontificate, calling on the Catholic Church and those of goodwill to ensure all children know the warmth and safety of a loving family.

Children have always been vulnerable, but the vulnerability they face today seems almost overwhelming. All over the world, children face war, famine and illness. Even in stable economic conditions, they often suffer from loneliness, abuse, hunger, poverty and neglect.

For this reason, Pope Francis convened the inaugural World Leaders Summit on Children’s Rights at the Vatican earlier this year, which sought to advance children’s protection from violence and exploitation; access to resources, education and health; and right to a family. Attended by Catholic Relief Services and numerous world leaders, the summit culminated in the creation of a new global alliance for children’s rights.

Pope Francis urged us to see children as Jesus sees them, reminding us that “as his disciples, we are called to make every effort to ensure that children are not robbed of their childhood and their dreams.”

However, children all over the world are robbed needlessly both of their childhood and of their dreams. When vulnerable families face poverty and other immense challenges, a sense of desperation can lead them to place their children into residential care settings such as orphanages. These separations deprive children of the care and belonging each of us needs during our formative years to flourish.

Yet millions of vulnerable children around the world live in orphanages, including in several thousand Catholic facilities, despite the vast majority having at least one living parent or other family.

This is something we must work fervently and faithfully to change. Though orphanages can meet a child’s most basic needs, research shows that even under the best circumstances, children who grow up in residential care develop significant setbacks. They commonly suffer from physical, cognitive, social and emotional delays that can follow them through the remainder of their lives.

Families are where children develop best. It’s where they are safest, as well.

In different parts of the world, Catholic-run residential care facilities are already starting to shift their focus towards reuniting children with their families — and then caring for the children and their parents together. They are transforming their ministries to ensure families can provide a safe and nurturing home for their children and have access to quality medical care, education and financial training

As Catholics and people of goodwill, we can follow the late Pope Francis’ example by using our time, talent and treasure to join this growing global movement and support these child and family-focused efforts. By channeling our support towards organizations and initiatives that strengthen families, we can help create a seismic shift in the welfare of countless children around the world.

Shortly before he died, Pope Francis committed to focus his next apostolic exhortation on children’s care and protection. Unwritten, it now is up to us to advance his vision expressed at the beginning of this Jubilee Year: “Let us pray that every child in our world may come to experience love, freedom, security and the promise of a dignified future.”

As we reflect on the profound legacy of Pope Francis, we are also greeted with the news of a new pope, Pope Leo. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and prayers for his papacy. We pray that Pope Leo continues the same ardent support for vulnerable children and families.

By championing the cause of ensuring every child achieves his or her God-given potential and knows the warmth and safety of a nurturing family, Pope Leo can continue to build on the foundation laid by Pope Francis. Let us unite in this mission to create a world where every child is cherished and protected.

Shannon Senefeld is senior vice president of overseas operations at Catholic Relief Services.