World Children's Day
World Children's Day 25-26 May 2024
Registration extended until 30 April 2024
https://www.worldchildrenday.org/it/prenota
Dear friends,
Peace and goodness to you all.
"Behold, I make all things new"
As you know, last 8 December 2023, the Holy Father Francis announced the first World Children's
Day, to be held next 25 and 26 May, entrusting the organization to the Dicastery for Culture and
Education and, at the same time, appointing me Coordinator. A demanding but exciting task, in
which I will be assisted by the Sant'Egidio Community and the Auxilium Cooperative.
I like to like to quote the Holy Father's words at the Angelus on 8 December: "What type of world
do we want to transmit to the children who are growing up? Like Jesus, we want to put children at
the centre and take care of them". As Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça reminds us, in his
Letter to the Brothers in the Episcopate: "As a new event, prepared in a short time, the first Day
will resemble the rehearsal of a concert rather than the concert itself, a seed rather than a tree".
I come to you to respond to some significant questions:
To whom?
World Children's Day is addressed to boys and girls between 5 and 12 years of age, and their adult
accompaniers. As an indicative criterion, we have assumed 3 adults for every 7 children.
Where?
In the letter sent on 6 February by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça to the Episcopal
Conferences, it is indicated that the Day be lived at a dual level: universal, based in Rome, and
local.
This latter may be diocesan, interdiocesan, or national, depending on expediency and convenience.
Universal level
The Roman event comprises two moments: Saturday 25 May, from 15.00 to 18.30. The venue
has yet to be defined for a moment of celebration and proclamation, with the presence of the Holy
Father; and on Sunday 26 May, at 10.00, in Saint Peter's Square, the Celebration of Holy Mass
presided over by the Holy Father. Given the minor age of the protagonists, the maximum number
of participants expected is around 100,000, including accompanying adults. Every local Church is
guaranteed the possibility of a representation.
Local level
The design and organisation of the local World Children's Day is left to the creativity of the
individual Dioceses and Bishops' Conferences, bearing in mind the short preparation time for the
2024 edition. The programme should at least include a moment of proclamation and celebration,
and the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration. It is useful to send to this Committee the programme
produced and the material produced locally; it would be a valuable contribution to the planning of
future editions.
Registration
- Registration for the event in Rome – subject to availability – may be sent by Dioceses,
Parishes, Movements, Schools and Associations.
- In the planning of local events, respect for the civil and ecclesiastical rules for the
"Protection of minors" is deemed obligatory.
- To register, it will be necessary to follow the procedure indicated at the following link
https://www.worldchildrenday.org/it/prenota of the dedicated website
https://www.worldchildrenday.org. You will also find the Italian version:
www.giornatamondialedeibambini.org
- For further and personalized information, it is possible to write to direzione@gmb24.org
- Registration will involve a payment of 5 Euros per person which, besides representing
confirmation of registration, will be paid to a solidarity fund to support the poorest among
the participants.
Twinning
We have launched a twinning initiative to raise awareness and encourage Dioceses, Federations,
Movements, Groups and Associations to welcome and host children from the poorest and most
disadvantaged countries. To simplify this procedure, we have created a dedicated mailbox:
gemellaggi@gmb24.org . You can use this address for any necessary communication, information
or assistance.
Suggestions
I would like to say to you that any suggestion or proposal is truly valuable to us, so as to be able to
work better and in synergy.
May the Virgin Mary and mutual prayer accompany us.
Father Enzo Fortunato
Coordinator, World Children's Day
Piazza Pio XII, 3, 00120 Città del Vaticano