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May 24, 2024On the occasion of the first World Children's Day, I will be answering the questions of the children:
1. How do you think kids can help make the world a better place?
I think you are very important for us as kids, because you are the future, you are the hope for the humanity. When we look at you, we are happy because you are a sign of the future.
2. Do you ever feel nervous when you have to speak in front of lots of people?
When I arrived here, a couple of years ago, I was a little bit nervous because English is not my mother language. But now I feel much better. And I think also people are happy to be with me and I am happy to be with them, therefore I am no more nervous to be with them.
3. What is your favourite thing about being a bishop?
For me, the best thing about being a bishop is that I am never alone. I am always with the people, the children. I am very happy when I can speak with them.
4. There are so many things that we can learn from you, but is there anything that you have ever learnt from a child?
We can always learn a lot of things from children. First of all, to remain children in our hearts. What does it mean to be a child? It means we are loved, we are without distinction, we are welcomed. So, we feel we are willed, we are not on Earth by chance, but we are chosen and loved by God forever.
5. Have you met the Pope before? How did you feel?
I met the pope a lot of times. I am very happy when I can meet him, really! He loves Jesus, he loves people, he loves children. It is a great joy for me when I can meet the pope.
6. Who is your favourite person from the Bible?
My favourite person in the Bible is Saint Paul, St Paul the apostle of the Gentiles, because he was a persecutor of Christians. But he has changed completely his life and he became a very important apostle. We was everywhere in the world to announce Jesus and the Gospel, he was also in the Arabia Peninsula.
7. Bishop, what is your favourite childhood memory?
My favourite memory, maybe more than one. First, I remember when my parents helped me learn to swim and also to ride a bicycle. But the best memory I have is when I started to pray with my parents and siblings at the end of every day before sleeping.
8. How can I know if I want to become a nun?
First of all I invite you to pray, to listen to your deep desires. God speaks to your heart. For that, I invite you to read the Gospel, meet priests and nuns, read the story of saints and religious people like Mother Teresa of Calcutta or St Francis of Assisi and you will, step by step, know your vocation.
9. Do you have a favourite saint?
I have, yes, my favourite saint is Saint Francis of Assisi, because he is the saint of fraternity. For him everybody, everything was brother and sister.
10. Bishop, how can children serve and be more helpful in the Church?
My answer is very simple. We need children to be children. With their joy, their enthusiasm in the life of the Church.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Peace be with you !
We celebrate the World Children’s Day for the first time. It is something completely new. Pope Francis had this beautiful idea. We are very happy to welcome this marvelous initiative which makes us feel united with all the children around the world.
With this celebration, we want, first of all, to celebrate all the children of the world; and thank God for the gift of their life. We want to pray and work so that all children can have a peaceful childhood, where they can study and play in peace. We pray that all the children will be happy in their family with their dad and mum, their siblings. We also think of the children who live in areas where there is no peace. We pray in a special way for them, pray for peace in the world and for children to live happily.
With this celebration the Pope wants to remind everyone that we are children. We are always children, sons and daughters. To exist is to be wanted and loved. It is sad if we forget this when we grow up and become adults. We must never forget that to be adults, to be dads and mums, we must never stop being children in our hearts, certain of being loved.
The title of this first World Children’s Day is “Behold, I Make All Things New”. In fact, children are a continuous novelty and help us to renew the world every day with the love of God.
Happy World Day of Children!
Bp Paolo Martinelli