Vatican City, November 6, 2023 (KAP) Around 7,000 girls and boys welcomed the Pope on Monday afternoon with loud chants and colorful posters. Children came from 84 countries and traveled from all over Italy for the “Children Meet the Pope” event. The head of the Catholic Church was visibly pleased with the raucous reception in the Vatican audience room. At a meeting that morning, he explained that his health was not good. The 86-year-old seemed a little cold at the children’s gathering.
Even so, he never tired of encouraging boys and girls to sing. In meetings like this, Francis often significantly shortens the texts of his prepared speeches and encourages active participation. The same on Monday. “Life is a gift! I can’t hear you! Life is a gift!” he shouted to the children. And: “We are all brothers! Everyone, everyone!” The children rewarded their commitment with shouts of “Francesco, Francesco”.
Ending wars and creating peace were the central messages of the event, organized, among others, by the Vatican Office for Education and Culture and the Community of Sant’Egidio. Of all the good things to talk about, the most important is peace, the Pope told the children. He asked the boys and girls several times to pray for this. “Peace is beautiful, let’s work together for peace!” he demanded.
But some children also asked the church leader personal questions: “What does the Pope dream about at night?” He mostly sleeps, was the answer. “What does the Pope do all day?” He is working. “Does he have friends?” Yes, he has friends at his residence, the Santa Marta Inn, in the parishes and also among the cardinals, replied Francisco. Of course, the Pope is also concerned about the environment and climate change. Children should not discard soda cans into the sea.