On Sunday at 17.00, event with children from foreign delegations in the Basilica Santi XII Apostoli

Vatican: Pope Francis will meet over seven thousand children from 84 countries

To arrive on Monday in the Paul VI Hall at 14.00 on 8 dedicated trains and 63 special buses

VATICAN, 4 NOV – Everything is ready for the event “Children meet the Pope”, to take place on Monday 6 November at 14.00 in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. More than seven thousand children from 84 countries will meet Pope Francis to share their hopes and concerns for the future. The meeting will be accompanied by the publication of “L’Enciclica dei bambini”, co-written by Fr. Enzo Fortunato and Aldo Cagnoli, with a preface by the Holy Father, who writes: “Dear children, I embrace you, and know that your Pope and ‘grandpa’ will do everything to let you live in a better, more beautiful world”.

The young people will arrive at Saint Peter’s on board 63 special buses, of which 30 are providedby Busitalia, and 8 extraordinary trains made available by the Gruppo FS Italiane. The meeting is sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education and organized in collaboration with the Sant’Egidio Community, the Auxilium Cooperative, Trenitalia and Busitalia (companies of the Gruppo FS Italiane), and Regional School Offices, and with the support of the Franciscan world, the PerugiAssisi Foundation and the Italian Football Federation.

“Faced with a society at war with one another, where there are oppositions, walls and exclusions, a World Children's Day is a sign of a different world where there is room for everyone, where peace and fraternity dwell. Children ask for peace, respect and listening. It is the duty of the adult world to start taking them seriously”, state Father Enzo Fortunato, Marco Impagliazzo and Angelo Chiorazzo, organizers of the event “Children meet the Pope”.

There will be a jumbo screen in the square broadcasting live coverage of the event.

PROGRAMME

5 November

At 17.00 the foreign delegations will meet at the Basilica Santi XII Apostoli in Rome, to discuss and reflect on the common home and the environment. On the occasion, the documentary “Earth4All and the World of Francis”, by Sky and GEDI, will be screened; the authors Riccardo Luna and Daniele Moretti will be present, and it will be introduced by Br. Carlos Trovarelli, minister general of the Friars Minor Conventual. Finally, in the adjacent square, Neapolitan pizza by the maestro “O Zi’ Aniello” of Gragnano will be offered to all the children.

6 November

At 10.30, on Platform One of the Roma Ostiense Station, the Rock regional train in special livery will be presented for the “Children meet the Pope” event. Father Enzo Fortunato, Friar Minor Conventual, Stefano Cuzzilla, president of Trenitalia, and Luigi Corradi, managing director and general manager of Trenitalia, will take part in the event.

6 November

At 14.00, arrival of the children in the Paul VI Hall and musical contributions from the participating schools

At 14.30, performance by the Little Choir of the Antoniano and Erica Boschiero.

At 14.40, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, will welcome everyone.

At 14.45, testimonies and songs by children from: Vietnam, Brazil (Amazonia region and favelas of Rio de Janeiro) and Australia

At 15.20, Mr. Rain and Beret will sing an unreleased version of Superheroes in Italian and Spanish accompanied by the Little Choir of the Antoniano

From 15.30, Pope Francis will arrive in the Hall and will be welcomed by the children's songs.

Five children will greet the Holy Father (Pamela, 7 – Syria; Seraphim, 7 – Ukraine; Alessio, 10 – Benin; Alejandro, 7 – Guatemala; Tomas, 9 – Australia).

Address from Pope Francis

At 15.50, fourteen children from the five continents will ask the Holy Father questions

A gesture of peace among the children, while the Little Choir of the Antoniano sings “I can believe”.

Five globes will be donated to ten children, two for each continent.

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ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE

Journalists and media workers who wish to attend must apply, up to 24 hours before he event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at press.vatican.va/accreditamenti

Press and Media Relations Office
Roberto Pacilio
Tel: +39 339.54.49.531 - E-mail: roberto.pacilio@gmail.com