VATICAN (CNS): During Mass concluding the first World Children’s Day Pope Francis encouraged children to always pray, and pray especially for an end to all wars.
“We are here to pray, to pray together and to pray to God,” the Father, who created the world, to his son, Jesus, who saved humanity, and to the Holy Spirit, “who accompanies us in life,” he said in his homily on May 26, the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
The pope did not read his prepared homily, choosing instead to remind the children of the meaning of the Holy Trinity as three persons in one God and why it is important to pray to them.
“God loves us so much,” he said, and the faithful always ask him to “accompany us in life and help us grow,” especially by praying the Our Father.
“We pray to Jesus so that he may help us, so he may be close to us,” the pope said. The faithful receive Christ by taking Communion, and Jesus forgives all sins, even the worst ones.
Do not forget this. Jesus always forgives everything, and we must have the humility to ask for forgiveness
“Do not forget this. Jesus always forgives everything, and we must have the humility to ask for forgiveness,” as well as recognise one’s mistakes and difficulties, and one’s intention to change course and seek help from God, he said.
The Holy Spirit “is inside of us,” after receiving him with baptism and the sacraments, the pope said. The Holy Spirit “tells us in our hearts the good things we should do,” and “he scolds us when we do something bad.” He gives the faithful strength and consolation during difficulties.
“The Holy Spirit accompanies us in life,” he said, asking the children often to repeat what the Holy Spirit does.
“We are happy because we believe. Faith makes us happy, and we believe in God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” he said.
Blessing the children, Pope Francis asked that they pray for each other so that they all may continue to forge ahead in life, to pray for their parents, grandparents and for children who are ill, some of whom were at the Mass.
We are gathered here at the Olympic Stadium, to ‘kick-off’ the movement of boys and girls who want to build a world of peace, where we are all brothers and sisters, a world that has a future because we want to take care of the environment around us
The day before, on May 25, the opening day of the event also held at the Olympic Stadium, Pope Francis told the thousands of children gathered that they must press ahead, be joyful, ask adults why there is injustice and always help others.
“We are gathered here at the Olympic Stadium, to ‘kick-off’ the movement of boys and girls who want to build a world of peace, where we are all brothers and sisters, a world that has a future because we want to take care of the environment around us,” he told them.
There was music, dance and even a brief friendly match in the centre field between two teams made up of children and retired Italian soccer champions. Multiple award-winning goalie, Gianluigi Buffon, placed a soccer ball in front of the pope’s chair. The pope stood and kicked the ball from the sidelines to symbolically kick-off the game. The pope later signed the ball and the children’s jerseys.
Pope Francis established the world day after holding a smaller encounter at the Vatican in November 2023 with some 7,500 children from 84 countries dedicated to learning from young children and listening to their questions about the future.
That event “brought a wave of joy” and “left a lasting impression in my heart,” he told the children and those accompanying them in the stadium. He said he wanted that conversation to continue and to reach more people, “that is why we are here today: to keep the dialogue going, to ask questions and seek answers together.”
The pope told the children he knows they are sad about war, and recounted his meeting earlier that day with children from Ukraine, Palestine and other parts of the world experiencing war. Many of the children had been injured and were in Italy to receive care
The pope told the children he knows they are sad about war, and recounted his meeting earlier that day with children from Ukraine, Palestine and other parts of the world experiencing war. Many of the children had been injured and were in Italy to receive care. Vatican News reported that among those at the audience was 13-year-old Yana Stepanenko who lost both legs due to a Russian missile strike in Ukraine. She ran the 5K at the Boston Marathon in April to raise money for prosthetics for a Ukrainian soldier in need.
The pope asked the children in the stadium to pray for their peers who cannot go to school, who suffer from war, who have no food or who are sick and lack medical care.
Quizzing them to make sure they knew that Jesus loved them, and the devil did not, he told them, “Dear children, let us press ahead and be joyful. Joy is healthy for the soul.”
Dozens of children representing different continents and countries gave the pope gifts, including two baskets of letters, 5,000 drawings and a pectoral cross modeled after the large and colourful “cross of joy” that was created for the world day and accompanied the events.
Children from different parts of the world asked the pope questions, such as: what can children do to make the world a better place; how can people truly love everyone; why there were people without jobs or homes.
The pope said all injustices were “the fruit of malice, egoism and war.”
Asked how to help adults be more compassionate about those who are less fortunate, the pope said children can help others and be a good example, and they can create “a true revolution” by always asking God and their parents, “Why?” such as why are there people living on the street or going without food.
He also urged children to visit their grandparents, who gave life, raised families and passed down their wisdom. “We have to respect,” visit and listen to grandparents, he said.
