By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis announced that he will canonize Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati next year and that the Vatican will host a World Meeting on the Rights of the Child Feb. 3.
The pope will canonize Blessed Acutis during the Jubilee for Adolescents in Rome April 25-27 and Blessed Frassati during the Jubilee of Young People in Rome July 28-Aug. 3, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.
The pope made the announcement during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square Nov. 20, which is World Children’s Day.
The annual celebration marks the date when the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and when the assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
“On the occasion of the International Day of the Rights of the Child and Adolescents that is celebrated today, I wish to announce that Feb. 3 the World Meeting on the Rights of the Child will be held here at the Vatican,” he said.
Titled “Let’s love them and protect them,” the meeting will include experts and celebrities from different countries, the pope said.
“It will be an occasion to pinpoint new paths directed at better assisting and protecting children still without rights who live in precarious conditions. They are exploited and abused and suffer the dramatic consequences of wars,” he said.
A small group of children involved in preparing for the Feb. 3 meeting joined the pope for a photograph after the announcement along with Franciscan Father Enzo Fortunato, director of communication for St. Peter’s Basilica and coordinator of the first World Children’s Day held in Rome May 25.
