After instituting the World Day of the Poor in 2017, as a legacy of the Jubilee of Mercy, and the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, still in times of pandemic, Pope Francis announced at the Angelus on December 8 the establishment of the World Day of Children, whose first edition will be held on May 25-26, 2024.
"The initiative responds to the question: what kind of world do we want to bequeath to children who are growing up?" the Pope said, also in response to Jesus' invitation to care for them. The poor, the elderly and children, along with young people (whose World Day was first instituted by St. John Paul II in 1986), have always been at the center of Pope Francis' magisterium.
While the first initiative, the one dedicated to the poor, is coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelization, the day for grandparents and the elderly is in the hands of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. The second, for children, will be sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
The event at the Vatican
On November 6, an allusion to this day was held in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican with thousands of children from different parts of the world, some 80 countries, who were able to tell their dreams and wishes directly to the Pope. The Pontiff spent some time with them listening to the questions of some of the "representatives": Isidora from Brazil, Rania from Palestine, Massimo from Rome, Ivan from Ukraine, Kim Ngan from Vietnam, Antrànik from Syria, Celeste from Peru, Pauline from Congo, Sofia from the Philippines, Luxelle from Africa, Susa from Samoa Tonga, Chris from Haiti, Drew from Australia, Salma from Ghana.
They had been convened by the same Dicastery of Culture for the event "Let's learn from children", in synergy with the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Auxilium Cooperative and with the support of the Franciscans.
"We have talked about many beautiful things, but the most beautiful thing that touches your hearts is peace, because you do not want war, you want there to be peace in the world," Pope Francis said at the end of the meeting after responding individually to each child.
A more beautiful and good world
For the occasion, "The Children's Encyclical" was also presented, a book signed by Franciscans Enzo Fortunato and Aldo Cagnoli, in whose preface the Pope writes: "Dear children, I embrace you, and know that your Pope and 'grandfather' will do everything possible so that you may live in a more beautiful and good world".
The same coordinating group for the November initiative will create the basis for future World Children's Days. Commenting on the Holy Father's decision to establish the Day on a permanent basis, the organizing committee underscored the spirit in which the project was born: the desire to imagine together with children "a different world, where there is peace, care for the environment and a choice for fraternity".
