World Meeting on Children’s Rights
First World Meeting on Children’s Rights: “Love Them and Protect Them“
The International Summit on Children’s Rights, titled “Love Them and Protect Them,” was announced by Pope Francis on November 20, 2024 during his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square and took place on February 3, 2025, in the Vatican.
The main theme of the summit was the need to address the challenges that children face globally and to promote concrete actions for their protection. This involved:
- Highlighting the plight of children suffering from poverty, war, lack of education, exploitation, and migration.
- Calling for an end to the “throwaway culture” that leads to the neglect and abuse of children, including abortion.
- Recognizing that children in wealthier countries also face challenges such as mental health issues and social marginalization.
- Calling for access to resources, education, nutrition, healthcare, family, and leisure.
- Committing to concrete actions to aid children, and not just words, ensuring that children are welcomed, loved, and protected.
In his Speech to the participants of the summit, Pope Francis calls everybody to action to protect and love children, recognizing their vulnerability and their importance for the future of humanity. He strongly states that “nothing is worth the life of a child“, firmly condemning situations where children are sacrificed for ideological, power, and nationalistic interests. He points out how children are often victims of conflicts, violence, and the throwaway culture.
Closing the first-ever International Summit on Children’s Rights, the Pope announced his intention to write an Apostolic Exhortation dedicated to children to “give continuity to this commitment and promote it throughout the Church.”
Images
- Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash
Sources
- Speech of His Holiness Pope Francis to the world leaders participating in the summit on children’s rights – Holy See Press Office
- International Summit on Children’s Rights, February 3, 2025 Video: Part One and Part Two – Vatican News YouTube Channel