Pope Francis visits the children of the Vatican Summer Camp
By Salvatore Cernuzio
Pope Francis brought joy to the children of the Vatican's Summer Camp, in what has become an annual tradition for the Holy Father.
Despite intense Roman heat during the 8:30 a.m visit, the Holy Father visited the Camp and engaged in dialogue with the children and teens, whose parents are Vatican employees.
On July 18, the Pope visited the blue, yellow, and green groups, whose colours are determined by age, along with staff members, led by Father Franco Fontana, the director of the Salesian community in the Vatican and chaplain of the Vatican Security Services and Museums, whom the Pope jokingly referred to as "Superman."
It was quite a colorful scene seeing the children's hats and t-shirts and the 300 biodegradable balloons released into the sky with the phrase, "You are precious in the eyes of God," which was also full of greetings, applause, laughter, high-fives, and prayers.
During the brief Q&A, the Pope responded to questions on several topics, including peace, which the Pope referred to as "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 pointed out, is very different from mere "fun."
The Pope's arrival
This year's setting was different from those in the past, which were usually held in Paul VI Hall.
This time the encounter took place in the sports field of the new San Giuseppe Center, near the Barcaccia Fountain, which was inaugurated in June thanks to the generosity of some benefactors whom the Pope met early in the morning at Santa Marta to express his gratitude.
The Holy Father had arrived in his well-known white Fiat 500L, while the children continued to play padel or cards, or swim in the pool.
The playing of the camp's anthem, and a loud round of applause, announced the arrival of Pope Francis, who was welcomed by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sister Raffaella Petrini, respectively the President and Secretary General of the Vatican Governatorate.
'Protect the children'
At this point, there were greetings and handshakes and special congratulations to someone who had just had a baby, before the Pope moved to the pagoda where he briefly met the Summer Camp staff, acknowledging that many of them are "former children" who have become teenagers and adults, and now serve this community.
"Thank you for your help," the Holy Father said, encouraging them in their "beautiful work" that "makes one grow," while also always calling on them to "protect the children."
The importance of family
The next stop was the field where all the children were waiting for the Pope, seated and waving panels with the word "Thank you."
Five of them had the opportunity to ask questions of Holy Father. The first was little Paolo, who asked, "Who were your knights when you were little?" making a reference to this year's theme "Errant Knights." The Pope immediately responded, "My parents."
From there, he shared some childhood memories from Argentina, of him and his four siblings together at the table with "mom and dad teaching us things." "Parents, family make you grow," said the Pope, as he also reiterated the importance of grandparents.
"They are wonderful!" he underscored.
Summers with the grandparents in Argentina
The topic of grandparents, prompted by Matilde's question, brought to the Holy Father's mind summers spent with the "abuelos (grandparents)," sometimes paternal, sometimes maternal, which he said were always happy moments.
"Talk to your grandparents," insisted the Pope. "What do you think about grandparents? You, tell me," he asked the group.
"They bring joy," shouted a girl in the front row. "Grandparents help us find our way," echoed another.
"That's right," the Pope confirmed, adding, "you must be close to your grandparents, okay?"
Never a spirit of war, always working toward peace
Pope Francis made another recommendation, to work toward peace.
"Making peace," he underscored, "is the most beautiful thing in life and we must learn to make peace at home, when we quarrel, with our siblings, 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 spirit of war," he said, stressing that this applies to everyone, "even for parents when they argue."
Preparing with joy for the Jubilee
A final question touched on the upcoming Jubilee Year, with Michele asking, "How can we young people prepare for the Jubilee?"
"Jubilee comes from the word jubilation and jubilation is joy," replied the Pope. Therefore, he said, one must "always prepare with joy." Joy, he observed, is different from "fun," which is not always a "good" thing.
Prayers, biodegradable balloons, and greetings
Before the gathering with the Holy Father drew to a close, a girl by the name of Alice read a letter on behalf of the entire "Summer Kids" community, calling it "a magnificent experience."
The encounter concluded with a moment of prayer, followed by the release of natural, biodegradable rubber balloons of various colors, including a white one for the Pope, with the same words printed on the banner behind Pope Francis, which were, "To you, dear girl and dear boy: you are precious in the eyes of God."
The organizers called this a symbolic gesture with the intention of spread the Pope's words to as many people as possible.
Before parting ways, the Holy Father left them with a final word of gratitude. "Thank you," he said, "for your spirit of joy."
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