Pope Leo XIV announces the second edition of World Children’s Day

During today’s Audience, Pope Leo XIV announced that the second edition of the World Children’s Day will take place in Rome from 25–27 September 2026.

World Children’s Day, promoted by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, will be a moment of encounter, prayer, and celebration, involving the little ones together with their families, coming from all over the world.

“Tomorrow, we celebrate World Children’s Day. I would like to take this opportunity to announce that on 25, 26, and 27 September 2026 we will celebrate the second World Children's Day in Rome. I invite all families with children to participate. The world needs to hear the voices of children. Their cry for peace is more necessary than ever in this era marked by wars and conflicts. Children represent the future we all dream of (Pope Leo XIV)”.

Card. Kevin Farrell: the Church and families have the mission of transmitting the faith to children

“On the next World Children's Day, the Church wishes to once again focus her attention on the world of childhood and the natural environment in which children live and grow up, namely the family”, said the Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Cardinal Kevin Farrell.  "It is important to put children and their families first, to consider them within the rich network of relationships making up their world: relationships with parents, siblings, grandparents, relatives and friends. The Church wishes to value the world of children and strengthen those bonds that children greatly appreciate and that give them joy and confidence”, he said.

“The Church also wishes to bring a positive message to children, who, unfortunately, from an early age, are surrounded by so many negative messages. The Holy Father Leo XIV often returns in his teaching to the centrality of Christ, the theme of unity, and the theme of peace. These are three perspectives that can greatly help the Church and families to bring a positive message to children. First of all, the Church and families have the mission of transmitting the faith to children, of making them aware of the beauty of friendship with Jesus, who makes them feel loved and never alone.”

Finally, Card. Farrell commented: They must also be shown the joy that comes from unity: unity within their families, unity with the children they meet every day, at school, and with all those who live alongside them, while divisions only generate sadness, fear and uncertainty. And children must be shown the beauty of peace, peace experienced first and foremost in their families, in the environments they live in and in the whole world. Children understand the value of peace very well and suffer greatly when they perceive tension and conflict around them, starting with their parents or in their surrounding environment".

"We therefore" he concluded "hope that the next WCD represents a wonderful opportunity for the Church to show her closeness to children and their families, giving them hope and joy".

Together with Pope Leo, we will say that a better future is possible – said Fr. Enzo Fortunato

“I thank the Holy Father and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, for their attention and kindness towards this day, which is so important for the Church and society. Children, together with their families, will experience days filled with listening and sharing. Together with Pope Leo, we will say that a better future is possible” said Fr. Enzo Fortunato “The data from international organisations speak for themselves: there are over two billion children in the world, every day around 13,000 under the age of five lose their lives to preventable causes, and millions live in areas of conflict, where war prevents them from building a future”.

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THE LOGO

At the end of the Audience, young Majd Bernard, a 7-year-old from Gaza, and Fr. Enzo Fortunato presented and showed the Pope the flag with the official logo of the next edition of the World Children’s Day. The Holy Father then blessed and signed the flag, which thus became a symbol of the journey leading to the 2026 event.

The handprints at the centre of the logo recall the simple and authentic gestures of childhood, a sign of the universality and purity of the young. The different colours represent the diversity of cultures which, united, form a harmony capable of welcoming and valuing differences. The seven handprints refer to the seven continents, while the Dome of St. Peter’s – symbol of the permanent home of the Day – appears as an embrace that welcomes and protects children from all over the world, with the cross recalling the passion and resurrection of Christ.

THE FIRST EDITION

The first edition of the World Children’s Day, held in 2024, saw the participation of about 100,000 children from 101 nations. The event, which touched the heart of the universal Church, left a profound mark of fraternity and hope. With the second edition in 2026, the Church renews its commitment to listening to and valuing the voice of the little ones, protagonists of a world longing for peace, welcome and future.

More information: www.worldchildrensday.org