In Rome's Olympic Stadium, the atmosphere was electric.
According to the Vatican, as many as 50,000 people attended the first World Children's Day. They came from all over the world and brought Pope Francis a list of questions on how to make the world a better place. And the Pope's response could be summed up like this:
POPE FRANCIS
Take a good look; take a good look; give me your hand—this is a gesture of peace. And now I would like you all to make this gesture with the little boy or girl next to you. A gesture of peace, all together! All together! This is the gesture of peace! Peace always is possible! Thank you!
The Pope spoke with children from Nicaragua, Burundi, Indonesia, Australia and Italy. And many of them brought him gifts like this soccer ball.
Earlier that morning at the Vatican, Pope Francis met with children from Ukraine and Palestine.
POPE FRANCIS
Some of them were wounded. Is war a good thing?
-“No!”
I can't hear you.
-“No!”
The Pope's message for the first part of World Children's Day was the need for a peaceful world.
JRB
TR: KG
