“In you, children, everything speaks of life, the future”: Pope Francis to Thousands at World Children’s Day in Rome

Pope Francis watches a friendly soccer game between Italian professional soccer players with children clad in uniforms as part of the first World Children’s Day on May 25, 2024, at Olympic Stadium in Rome.

By Matthew Santucci

Rome Newsroom, 25 May, 2024 / 7:05 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis on Saturday addressed the first World Children’s Day, a gathering with children from around the globe, where he spoke on the importance of building a future based on peace, hope, and dialogue.

“In you, children, everything speaks of life and the future. The Church, as a mother, welcomes you and accompanies you with tenderness and hope,” the pope said to the estimated 50,000 in attendance at Rome’s Olympic Stadium on May 25.

Pope Francis is surrounded by children in Rome’s Olympic Stadium for World Children’s Day on May 25, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Recalling his meeting with nearly 7,000 children last November — an event sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education dedicated to the theme “Let Us Learn from Boys and Girls” — the pope explained that the meeting “left a lasting impression in my heart” and was the catalyst for World Children’s Day.

“I prayed and realized that our conversation had to continue and expand to reach more children and young people,” the pope said. “That is why we are here today: to keep the dialogue going, to ask questions and seek answers together.”

Pope Francis is surrounded by children as he watches a friendly soccer match between Italian professional players and children in Rome’s Olympic Stadium for World Children’s Day on May 25, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

World Children’s Day is a new initiative by Pope Francis sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education in collaboration with the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio, the Auxilium Cooperative, and the Italian Football Federation.

The event commenced at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, transformed into the “Children’s Village,” at 3:30 p.m. local time. Italian professional soccer players engaged in a friendly soccer match with some of the children clad in uniforms.

Pope Francis arrived at the stadium in the white “popemobile” at approximately 4:40 p.m. against the backdrop of thunderous cheers from the crowd, who represented more than 100 nationalities.

Pope Francis arrives at Rome’s Olympic Stadium in the white “popemobile” for World Children’s Day on May 25, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

The pope took a seat in the arena, where he was surrounded by children, where he opened his speech addressing some of the issues children face but encouraged them to have faith.

Speaking on the theme of war and peace, the pope asked the children: “Are you sad about the wars?” To which they answered in unison: “Yes!”

“You are saddened because many of your peers cannot go to school. There are girls and boys who cannot go to school. They are realities that I also carry in my heart, and I pray for them,” the pope said.

Pope Francis addresses some of the issues children face, encouraging them to have faith during World Children’s Day on May 25, 2024, in Rome’s Olympic Stadium. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

“We pray for the children who cannot go to school, for the children who suffer from wars, for the children who have nothing to eat, for the children who are sick and no one cares for them,” he said.