PRESS RELEASE

Vatican, all ready for the summit on children’s rights with Pope Francis and 50 world leaders

The event will be followed by the global media, live via the Vatican media and through the Holy See communications channels

VATICAN, 31 JAN – Everything is ready in the Vatican for the upcoming international summit on children entitled “Love them and protect them”, to be held this coming 3 February in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. There will be eight round tables, with the participation of Nobel laureates, world leaders, professors, writers, economists, religious figures and international organizations. The event, organized by the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, will be opened and concluded by Pope Francis, in the presence of a delegation of children, and will be attended by 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, politician and environmentalist, former vice president of the United States; 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 of Italy; Máximo Torero, head economist of the FAO; Megawati Sukarnoputri, fifth President of Indonesia; Arif Husain, head economist of the World Food Programme; Miguel Benasayag, philosopher and psychoanalyst; and Paolo Gentiloni. They will be joined by the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and the Minister for Social Development of the Republic of South Africa, Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe.

GIFTS

For the occasion, the Pope will give the guests a precious miniature of the Holy Door in bronze, produced by the Bugatti Artistic Foundries, and a scarf in natural fibres and colours, signed by the maestro Claudio Cutuli.

FOR THE MEDIA

The summit will be followed live by Vatican Media and will be broadcast on the Vatican News portal and via the Holy See communications channels.

The signal will be available to all connected international networks, as well as on the World Children’s Day channels. Full-length live coverage will be guaranteed by the first Rai channel from 8.30 to 10.15 on Monday 3 February, with windows throughout the entire day.

ACCREDITATION AND PARTICIPATION PROCEDURES

Journalists and media operators may obtain access exclusively to 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.

Select the event: Esterno – “Amiamoli e proteggiamoli” – Summit Int. sui diritti dei Bambini

Appointment for journalists accredited to the event:

- for the morning session, 07.00 at the Holy See Press Office (Via della Conciliazione 54);

- for the afternoon session, 13.30 at the Holy See Press Office (Via della Conciliazione 54);

Emiliano Amato

Communication Office

World Leaders Summit on Children's Rights

Tel. 328 5493 139