In a heartwarming and insightful event titled "Children Meet the Pope," Pope Francis welcomed over 7,000 children from 84 countries at the Vatican. This remarkable gathering coincided with the release of "The Children's Encyclical," to which the Pope contributed a heartfelt preface. During the event, Pope Francis emphasized the unique lessons adults can learn from children, highlighting their innate wisdom and perspective. Addressing serious global issues, the Pope focused on the impact of war on children and the urgent need to protect young lives from conflict. The children, in turn, engaged the Pope with pressing questions, particularly on the climate crisis, echoing his call for environmental stewardship.

Rudolf Gehrig has been working for EWTN since 2013, among other things as a reporter, TV presenter, and producer. From 2019 to 2022 he was chief correspondent for German-speaking Europe at CNA Deutsch before moving to the Italian capital as a Rome correspondent and has since reported for EWTN Vatican and CNA Deutsch directly from the heart of the universal Church.