Majd Bernard, a 7-year-old boy from Gaza, played a central role in the official ceremony marking the second International Children’s Day at the Vatican, presenting the event’s official flag to Pope Leo XIV—a symbolic moment reflecting a message of peace, hope, and global child solidarity.

The ceremony took place during the Pope’s public audience on Wednesday, November 19. During the event, the Pope signed and blessed the flag, announcing that International Children’s Day 2026 will be held in Rome from September 25 to 27.

Speaking about the initiative, Pope said: “My thoughts are with the children, whom I will have the honor to meet on their special day.”

According to the Pope’s Committee for International Children’s Day, the three-day gathering is designed as “a moment for meeting, prayer, and celebration” for children and families worldwide, continuing the Church’s efforts to highlight the dignity, spiritual needs, and role of children in human society.

Majd Bernard’s presence alongside Enzo Fortunato, head of the Papal Committee, brought a human and global dimension to the ceremony and symbolized a call for friendship and peace among children, particularly from a region long affected by suffering and conflict.