Everything’s ready. Rome is preparing to welcome the arrival of 100,000 or more from Italy and the world. And they, submerging it with a tsunami of joy, enthusiasm, desire to live and affection for Jesus, the Church, the Pope. They are the 100 thousand boys and girls of 101 countries that will participate tomorrow afternoon at the Olympic Stadium and tomorrow in St. Peter’s Squarethe first World Children’s Day desired by Pope Francis also as a step towards the Jubilee of 2025. A brand new event that will also see several “firsts”, such as the “kick-off” that the Pontiff will give to the match between champions and children on the Olimpico lawn and a monologue by Oscar winner Roberto Benigni in St. Peter’s , tomorrow at the conclusion of the event.
The two-day event will open tomorrow, May 25th, at 3.30pm at the Olympic Stadium with a meeting made up of music, sport, reflections and spirituality, hosted by Carlo Conti. Immediately a match between the children and the international footballers captained by Gianluigi Buffon. Then the parade of over 100 delegations in traditional clothes and many musical moments: the performance of the anthem of the event by Marco Frisina, by the Small Choir of the Zecchino d’Oro and the choirs of the Galaxy. AND the songs of Renato Zero, Al Bano, Orietta Berti and Carolina Benvenga.
The Pope, who is expected to arrive at the stadium after 4.30 pm, will talk to the children, answering their questions. The program also includes the testimonies of Catherine Russell, executive director of Unicef, of Lino Banfi, of the director Matteo Garrone, accompanied by the protagonist of his latest film “Io Capitano”, the Senegalese Seydou Sarr, and the screening of the trailer of the short film “La Casa di tutti” written and directed by the Manetti bros (directors of successful films such as Diabolik). The match should end around 6.30pm and 70,000 children are expected to be present in the stadium.
The second appointment is on the morning of Sunday 26th at 9.30 in St. Peter’s Square, with a moment of entertainment by the Piccolo Coro dello Zecchino d’Oro and the choirs of the Galaxy. Then at 10.15 am the greeting of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, and the Pope’s vicar for the Vatican City. And at 10.30 the start of the Mass presided over by Pope Francis. At the end the Pontiff will recite the Angelus and followed by Roberto Benigni’s monologue.
The Day is sponsored by the Dicastery for culture and education in collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio and the Cooperativa Auxilium and is coordinated by Father Enzo Fortunato. Numerous partnerships. The Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital will participate with its patients and its healthcare staff, who will contribute to the assistance service during both events. A group of patients at the hospital will carry a banner with the words: “Lives that help life”. Telefono Azzurro will also be present to offer support and listening. During the event at the Olympic Stadium, it will be possible to contact the organisation’s volunteers for information on the psychological support service and to report emergency situations. Mcl will also be present with a group of over 150 people (children with their families), arriving from Sicily and Lazio. And again today, in Rimini there will be the “Diocesan Sports Olympics”. Football, basketball, volleyball, Frisbee, but also table football, sack racing and tug of war tournaments for children and teenagers up to middle school. Bishop Nicolò Anselmi will be present.
