Vatican City, Vatican – July 2024 – Yesterday morning, July 18, Pope Francis visited the “Estate Ragazzi in the Vatican” summer center, accompanied by Fr Franco Fontana, SDB, responsible for organizing the center’s physical, educational, and spiritual activity weeks. After a brief greeting and a thank you to the benefactors at Casa Santa Marta, the Pope moved to the area of the small sports center, recently built and intended for the children of employees, dedicated to Saint Joseph. Upon his arrival, a brief meeting with the leaders took place first, and then the Pope held a conversation with the children and young people participating in the summer center. In answering their questions and their interventions, inspired by the reflection and activities that they are following over these days, Pope Francis spoke of the value of the family, parents, the relationship with grandparents, and urged them to work for peace because “making peace is the most beautiful thing in life,” and to prepare for the next jubilee “with the spirit of joy.” Finally, after a moment of prayer, the children and young people threw colored, natural rubber, biodegradable balloons into the air, all together, each with the words of the Pope: “To you, dear boy, to you, dear girl, you are precious in the eyes of God,” hoping that the message can reach as many people as possible.

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