Pope Francis recently declared the inception of the World Day of Children, marking a historic first for the Church. This event is set to take place in Rome on May 25 and 26, 2024, aligning with the Church’s ongoing commitment to prioritize the welfare of children.
During his Angelus address on December 8 commemorating the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis revealed this groundbreaking event. He shared the World Day of Children’s core purpose, saying, “Like Jesus, we want to put children at the centre and care for them.”
The World Day of Children, organized by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, is a response to a pivotal question posed by the Pope: “What kind of world do we want to transmit to the children who are growing up?”
The inspiration behind this event came from a child, 9-year-old Alessandro, who proposed the idea to Pope Francis. In anticipation of this event, a preliminary gathering titled “Let’s Learn from Boys and Girls” was held last November, seeing Pope Francis engage with 7,500 children from across the globe.
Pope Francis, who established the annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, is continuing his mission of inclusivity and care for all ages. The World Day of Children promises to be a momentous occasion, fostering global awareness and care for the youngest members of our communities!
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