The first ever World Children's Day will be held at the Vatican this weekend. Children from over 100 countries are expected to travel to Rome to spend the weekend with Pope Francis to reflect on their importance in the world's future.
It could potentially grow into a new type of World Youth Day in the future. And in December last year, the Pope announced this new initiative.
POPE FRANCIS
On May 25 and 26 next year, we will celebrate the first World Children's Day in Rome. The initiative, sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, answers the question: what kind of world do we wish to pass on to children who are growing up? Like Jesus, we want to put children at the center and care for them.
The weekend will kick off on Saturday afternoon at Rome's Olympic Stadium with a soccer match between the children and professional players, featuring Italian soccer star Gianluigi Buffon.
On Sunday, the event will close with a Mass in St. Peter's Square presided over by Pope Francis. After the Mass, there will be a special performance: a speech about childhood by the Oscar winning Italian actor Roberto Benigni.
AT/JRB
