World leaders gathered at the Vatican Apostolic Palace to celebrate the Summit on Children’s Rights. Before the opening, Pope Francis received a group of 10 children. Among them was Roman, a Ukrainian child who suffered fourth-degree burns in a rocket attack. The embrace between the little boy and the Pope became the image that reminds us of the importance of this summit.
Nobel laureates, professors, economists, religious and political leaders discussed the protection of children suffering from poverty, war, exploitation and lack of education.
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the founder of Mary’s Meals has reiterated that they mentioned that child hunger is on the rise after decades of progress.
EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser asked, “With all our technology, all our possibilities, all our resources, the situation is getting worse?”
“Yes, in many ways it’s getting worse,” MacFarlane-Barrow noted. “And you’re right, because I think, you know, we have an even greater responsibility for that failing, because we have more possibilities than ever. We have more tools at our disposal than ever to solve these things and to uphold the rights of every child to life and for their growth and to enable them to flourish. We have so many ways we can do that today, and I think it’s a very great feeling. And that’s why we’re so pleased that the Holy Father, would convene a meeting like that and take the lead on that.”
During the meeting, the Pope lamented the loss of childhood for children suffering from wars and asked that injustices against the weakest not become “the new normal.”
The Holy Father said, “Looking through the eyes of those who have experienced war is the best way to understand the inestimable value of life. But listening to children living in violence, exploitation or injustice today also serves to strengthen our ‘no’ to war.”
In addition, the pontiff pointed out that abortion is another kind of attack on children that suppresses hope for humanity:
“In the name of this logic of discarding, in which man becomes omnipotent, unborn life is sacrificed through the murderous practice of abortion. Abortion suppresses the life of children and cuts off the source of hope for the whole of society.”
Among those present were Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, and Queen Rania of Jordan, who denounced that “in the fury of war, there is no way to protect children from humanity’s cruelest impulses.”
Queen Rania continued, “They are robbed of every right. To life and security, but also to education, health, privacy and protection from abuse.”
Further, Jordan’s Queen emphasized, “In every news report or video flagged ‘sensitive’ on social media, they are there. Bleeding and covering their ears after an airstrike. Burned so badly their own parents can’t even recognize them. Taking in horrors that have been blurred from our screens for our protection.”
During the Congress, participants also discussed the “drama of child slavery,” where children are victims of trafficking and forced marriages.
This congress is a prelude to the second World Children’s Day, which the Pope has called for September 2026.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
