Pope Francis visits the children of the Vatican Summer Camp

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Pope Francis brought joy to children at the Vatican summer camp, in what has become an annual tradition for the Holy Father.

Despite the intense Roman heat during the 8:30 a.m. visit, the Holy Father toured the camp and engaged in dialogue with the children and adolescents, whose parents are Vatican employees.

On July 18, the pope visited the blue, yellow and green groups, whose colors are determined by age, as well as staff members, led by Father Franco Fontana, director of the Salesian community in the Vatican and chaplain of the security services and the Vatican Museums, whom the pope jokingly nicknamed “Superman.”

It was a very colorful scene to see the children’s hats and t-shirts and the 300 biodegradable balloons released into the sky with the phrase “You are precious in God’s eyes”, which was also full of greetings, applause, laughter, high-fives and prayers.

During the brief question-and-answer session, the pope answered questions on several topics, including peace, which he called “the most beautiful thing in the world”; the importance of family; staying close to grandparents, who “help find the way”; and preparing for the Jubilee “with joy,” which, the pope stressed, is very different from mere “pleasure.”

The arrival of the Pope

This year’s setting was different from those of previous years, which usually took place in the Paul VI Hall.

This time the meeting took place on the sports field of the new San Giuseppe Center, near the Barcaccia fountain, inaugurated in June thanks to the generosity of some benefactors whom the Pope met early in the morning in Santa Marta to express his gratitude.

The Holy Father arrived in his famous white Fiat 500L, while the children continued to play padel or cards, or swim in the pool.

The camp anthem and a round of applause announced the arrival of Pope Francis, welcomed by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sister Raffaella Petrini, respectively president and secretary general of the Vatican governorate.

“Protecting children”

At that point, there were greetings and handshakes and special congratulations to someone who had just had a baby, before the pope went to the pagoda where he met briefly with the summer camp staff, acknowledging that many of them are “former children” who have become teenagers and adults, and who now serve this community.

“Thank you for your help,” said the Holy Father, encouraging them in their “beautiful work” which “makes people grow,” while always calling on them to “protect children.”

The importance of family

The next stop was the field where all the children were waiting for the Pope, sitting and waving signs with the word “Thank you.”

Five of them had the opportunity to ask the Holy Father questions. The first was little Paolo, who asked him: “Who were your knights when you were little?”, referring to this year’s theme “Knights Errant.” The Pope immediately replied: “My parents.”

From there, he shared some childhood memories in Argentina, of him and his four siblings together at the table with “mom and dad who teach us things.” “Parents, family make you grow,” the pope said, while recalling the importance of grandparents.

“They are wonderful!” he said.

Summers with grandparents in Argentina

The theme of grandparents, raised by Matilde’s question, reminded the Holy Father of the summers spent with the “abuelos (grandparents)”, sometimes paternal, sometimes maternal, which, according to him, were always happy moments.

“Talk to your grandparents,” the Pope urged. “What do you think about grandparents? You tell me,” he asked the group.

“They bring us joy,” cries a young girl sitting in the front row. “Grandparents help us find our way,” says another.

“That’s true,” the Pope confirmed, adding, “you must be close to your grandparents, okay?”

Never a spirit of war, always marching towards peace

Pope Francis made another recommendation: to work for peace.

“Making peace,” he stressed, “is the most beautiful thing in life and we must learn to make peace at home, when we argue, with our brothers and sisters, when we get angry.”

“Never go to bed without making peace!” exclaimed Pope Francis, making the children repeat this phrase with him three times.

“Never go to bed with a warlike spirit,” he said, stressing that this applies to everyone, “even parents when they argue.”

Preparing with joy for the Jubilee

A final question concerned the upcoming Jubilee year, and Michele asked: “How can we young people prepare for the Jubilee?”

“Jubilee comes from the word jubilation and jubilation means joy,” the pope replied. Therefore, one must “always prepare with joy.” Joy, he observed, is different from “joy,” which is not always a “good” thing.

Prayers, biodegradable balloons and greetings

Before the meeting with the Holy Father ended, a young girl named Alice read a letter on behalf of the entire Summer Kids community, calling the meeting a “magnificent experience.”

The meeting concluded with a moment of prayer, followed by the release of natural and biodegradable rubber balloons of different colors, including a white one for the Pope, with the same words printed on the banner behind Pope Francis, namely: “For you, dear girl and dear boy: you are precious in the eyes of God.”

The organizers called the gesture symbolic, with the intention of spreading the Pope’s words to as many people as possible.

Before parting, the Holy Father addressed a final word of thanks to them. “Thank you for your spirit of joy,” he said.