World Children’s Day, Pope Francis: “Peace is always possible”
As colorful as the balloons flying over the Olimpico, the children answer the Pontiff's questions. "Is war a beautiful thing?" Francis asks them. "No!", they all shout together
ROME – The happiest of roars welcomes Pope Francis to the Olympic stadium, where today the first World Children’s Day is celebrated. They, the protagonists, are 70 thousand and come from the most disparate countries. As colorful as the balloons flying over the Olimpico, they answer the Pontiff’s questions. “Is war a beautiful thing?”, Francis asks them. “No!”, they all shout together.
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Not far from the large cross placed on the sidelines next to the papal chair there is a small group of Palestinian girls and boys. They cry. “I know you are sad because many of your peers cannot go to school. I pray for them – says the Pope – for the children who suffer from the war, who have nothing to eat, who are sick and no one cares for them”. The Pontiff talks to them, answers their questions, watches them play football, lets them sit next to him, receives them and kisses them. Watch the flags of each country waving, listen toOrietta Berti and Renato Zeropresented by Carlo Conti. “We are here at the Olympic Stadium”, he says, “to kick off this movement of girls and boys who want to build a world of peace“.
Arriving just before 5pm, the Pope was welcomed by the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, by the minister of Sport, Andrea Abodi, and by the president of CONI, Giovanni Malagò. Then, he got into the Papa mobile together with two children and entered the pitch. “It is an extraordinary event, we are very happy, it is a beautiful initiative because children are the centre, our hope, our future. We must learn from them – said Gualtieri – this is the message. The Their gaze on the future must be a lesson for us, to build a world of peace, of respect for the environment, based on brotherhood and solidarity. It is a beautiful day and a dress rehearsal for the Jubilee. Today we inaugurated our hall special operation which will then have to manage all the most important events. It is a wonderful way to start, a splendid initiative”, concluded Gualtieri.
“Is it true that peace is always possible?“. Geronimo, a child who arrived from Colombia, asked Pope Francis. “Peace is always possible“, confirmed the Pontiff, who asked all those present: “But how is peace made?”. The boys and girls sitting near the Pope responded: “Forgive and apologize”. “Look carefully at how peace is made”, added the Pontiff, shaking Geronimo’s hand, inviting everyone to do so with their neighbour. “This is a gesture of peace, so the world will be better”, underlined the Holy Father. A miracle? “That all children have what they need to live, eat, go to school and that they are happy. This is the miracle I would like to do“, declared the Pope.
World Children’s Day will end tomorrow in St. Peter’s with the Angelus and the Pope’s greeting to children from all over the world. Among the guests Roberto Benigni, who will entertain those present with a monologue.
