(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 16.05.2024).- Pope Francis, Roberto Benigni and children from around the world will close the first World Children’s Day in Saint Peter’s Square, which will be held on May 25-26 in Rome.
The two-day event will open on Saturday, May 25, at 3:30 pm in the Olympic Stadium, with music, sports, reflection and spirituality, in which children of more than 100 nations will participate. The Holy Father will open the event with a match between children and international soccer players headed by Gianluigi Buffon. The World Day will close on Sunday, May 26, in Saint Peter’s Square with Holy Mass presided over by Pope Francis, and Roberto Benigni’s monologue, after the recitation of the Regina Coeli.
“The institution of a World Children’s Day, strongly desired by Pope Francis, is an event of worldwide reach, not only for the history of the Church, but for humanity,” said Father Enzo Fortunato, coordinator of the event. “It’s a counter-song of hope, a sign to leaders. We want to look at the world through the eyes of children, who are the hope of peoples, their future. The simplicity of their hearts is a gift of God and for those who know how to receive it, the possibility of peace. I thank publicly Roberto Benigni and all those that have decided to work and give their time and talent to children from all over the world. I want to thank the children present in the two-day event and those that from afar — thanks to Vatican Media’s live broadcast, to the international press and to the support of the Dicastery of Communication –, will be able to be close to the Pope and to this historic event,” concluded Father Fortunato.
Taking part in the meeting to present the World Children’s Day, moderated by Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, were, among others, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education; Marco Impagliazzo, President of Sant’Egidio Community; Hannah Imordi and Rahila Saya, of La SapienzaUniversity of Global Humanities, and Aldo Cagnoli, Vice-Coordinator of the World Children’s Day. Also present among others were: Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region; Marco Mezzaroma, President of Sports and Health; Domenico Alagia, Coooperativa Auxilium; Pier Giorgio Bellocchio and the Manetti Brothers.
In order to facilitate access to information and to make communication before and during the event more efficient, Studiogusto designed and developed the mobile application “World Children’s Day,” downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Store, from which one can navigate easily through the site’s sections and connect to the live broadcast of the event from a smartphone or tablet.
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