VATICAN (SE): A World Day of Children, in the wake of World Youth Day, will be held in Rome on 25 to 26 May 2024, Pope Francis announced at the Angelus on, December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Vatican News reported.
It is a response to the question: “What kind of world do we want to leave to the children who are growing up now?”
The pope, giving his first unassisted Angelus reflection in nearly two weeks said, “Like Jesus, we want to put children at the centre and care for them.”
Sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, it is anticipated that the event will see thousands of boys and girls from all over the world flock to Rome, is. The dicastery already offered its patronage in November, at the “Let’s Learn from Boys and Girls” event that saw Pope Francis surrounded by some 7,500 children from around the world in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. Vatican News reported that the event could be seen as a prelude to 2024’s World Day of Children.
The idea of a day entirely dedicated to children was proposed to the pope in July by a child, 9-year-old Alessandro, on the occasion of the Popecast, the second podcast made by Vatican Media with Pope Francis in view of the WYD in Lisbon.
“I like it very much!” the pope replied after listening to the voice message. “We can have it organised by the grandparents. A beautiful idea. I will think about it and see how to do it.”
