World Children’s Day

Building a platform able to confront the most pressing questions regarding the rights of the youngest

Vatican: International Summit on Children’s Rights begins on 3 February with discussion tables with Pope Francis

Present, among others: Queen Rania of Jordan, Ahmed El-Tayeb, Edith Bruck, Mario Draghi, Miguel Benasayag, Liliana Segre, Thomas Bach, Megawati Sukarnopoutri, Al Gore, Kailash Satyarthi, Antonio Tajani, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Paolo Gentiloni

VATICAN, 28 JAN – This morning in the Holy See Press Office presented the International Summit on Children’s Rights entitled “Love them and protect them”, to be held this coming 3 February in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

The event, promoted by the Holy Father and coordinated by the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, will be opened by ten children from various parts of the world, who will deliver a message to Pope Francis. The summit, as announced by the Holy Father last 20 November, will be an opportunity to identify new ways to come to the aid of and protect millions of children who are still without rights, who live in precarious conditions, who are exploited and abused, and who suffer the dramatic consequences of wars.

The press conference, moderated by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, was also attended by Fr. Enzo Fortunato, president of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day; Marco Impagliazzo, president of the Sant’Egidio Community; Aldo Cagnoli, vice president of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day; and Angelo Chiorazzo, founder of the social cooperative Auxilium. During the meeting, a video message from Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2014, was screened.

“The summit will contribute to building a platform capable of facing the most pressing questions regarding the rights of the youngest, at the same time promoting international collaboration for a more secure and equitable future for children all around the world”, declared Fr. Enzo Fortunato, president of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day. “In view of the Second World Children’s Day, which Pope Francis has called for in September 2026 – we recognize that now, more than ever, it is essential to listen to the voices of children: ‘no’ to hunger, inequality, violence, wars and the devastation of Our Mother Earth”.

The summit will be attended by, among others: Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan; Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, President of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development; Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of al-Azhar; Liliana Segre, life Senator; Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank; Al Gore, US politician and environmentalist; Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee; Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, president of Interpol; Edith Bruck, writer; Antonio Tajani, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Italy; Máximo Torero, head economist at the FAO; Megawati Sukarnoputri, fifth President of Indonesia; Arif Husain, head economist of the World Food Programme; Miguel Bensayag, philosopher and psychoanalyst; Paolo Gentiloni, President of the United Nations Task Force on debt.

Pope Francis will offer his voice and his proposal for reflection at the international meeting. The World Leaders Summit will be broadcast live by Vatican Media.

The speakers’ addresses will be distributed in the specific file located at: https://bit.ly/MEDIA_PRESS

Press and Media Relations Office:

Roberto Pacilio - M: +39 339.54.49.531 - E-mail: roberto.pacilio@gmail.com

ACCREDITATION AND PARTICIPATION PROCEDURES

Journalists and media workers can enter exclusively via the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, by applying, no less than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti.

Please select the event: Esterno - "Amiamoli e proteggiamoli" - Summit Int. sui diritti dei Bambini

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