The beauty of peace in the name of joy and hope

On the forthcoming World Children's Day, the Church again wants to pay special attention to the world of children and the natural environment in which children live and grow, namely the family. It is important to put children and their families in the foreground, to consider them within the rich network of relationships that makes up their world: relationships with parents, siblings, grandparents, relatives, friends. The Church wants to value the world of children and strengthen those bonds that children value so much and that give them joy and security.

The Church also wants to bring a positive message to children, who unfortunately are surrounded by so many negative messages from an early age. The Holy Father Leo XIV, returns often 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 to transmit the faith to children, to make them know the beauty of friendship with Jesus that makes them feel loved and never alone.

They must also be shown the joy that comes from unity: unity within their families, unity with the other children they meet every day, in the 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 lived first and foremost in their families, in the environments they frequent and in the world. Children understand well the value of peace and suffer greatly when they perceive tensions and conflicts around them, starting with their parents or in their surroundings.