Vatican City, 19th November 2025 – During today’s Audience, Pope Leo XIV announced that the second edition of World Children’s Day will be held in Rome from 25th to 27th September 2026. WCD, promoted by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, will be a time of gathering, prayer and celebration involving children and their families from all over the world.
“My thoughts also go to the children, whom I will have the joy of meeting on the Day dedicated to them, scheduled from 25th to 27th September 2026”. These were the words of Pope Leo XIV.
At the end of the Audience, 7-year-old Majd Bernard from Gaza and Father Enzo Fortunato presented and showed the Pope the flag with the official logo of the next edition of World Children’s Day. The Holy Father then blessed and signed the flag, which has thus become a symbol of the journey that will lead to the 2026 event.
STATEMENTS
“On the next World Children’s Day, the Church once again wishes to pay special attention to the world of childhood and the natural environment in which children live and grow, namely the family”, said the Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Cardinal Kevin Farrell. 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 well and suffer greatly when they perceive tension and conflict around them, starting with their parents or in their surrounding environment. We therefore 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”.
“I thank the Holy Father and Cardinal Kevin Farrell for their attention and caring support towards this day, which is so important for the Church and society. Children and their families will spend days filled with listening and sharing. Together with Pope Leo”, said Father Enzo Fortunato, “we will proclaim that a better future is possible”.
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”.
