Children's Table - Dreams, Passions... and Reality for Fraternity
Children’s Table – Dreams, Passions… and Reality for Fraternity will be held at Vatican City.Friday, September 12, 2025, 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Synod Hall – Vatican City
Coordinator: Dr. Aldo Cagnoli
Our Vision
Our goal is to help children and young people protect and nurture the gifts God has placed in their hearts: dreams and passions. These are gifts that give life meaning and open the door to others.
Jesus invites us to become like children, because only those with a simple and trusting heart can truly welcome life and God (Mt 18:3; Lk 18:17).
Children’s dreams are the lifeblood of the future, and the words that will guide our journey are: Desire, Respect, Compassion, Love. These words speak to everyone’s heart—believers and non-believers alike—in a spirit of fraternity, dialogue, and encounter.
Our 5 Steps
Listening to expert insights: We will hear from experts and witnesses whose words will highlight the value and richness children bring, enriching our journey and shared dialogue. Among them: philosopher Miguel Benasayag; we are awaiting final confirmation from UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.
Helping children dream: Supporting children and young people in believing in the dreams and passions God has placed in their hearts.
Learning from children: Children are masters at dreaming with trust and freedom. Adults and older youth can learn a great deal from them.
Gathering real-life stories: We will share true stories (from youth and adults) of people who believed in their dreams and made them a reality.
Creating something together: We will produce a final summary document capturing the experience shared. Actress Claudia Gerini will perform a monologue created together with children, inspired by the guiding words: respect, compassion, desire, and love.
Practical Ideas for the Table
Involve youth and adolescents: Older students will serve as a bridge between children and adults.
Life stories: Testimonies from young people (including international voices) who have fulfilled their dreams (e.g., a young woman pilot, athletes like Edoardo Bove).
Traveling table: After the September event, we will visit children and youth at schools, high schools, and universities.
Topics to Explore (in a simple and lively way)
The value of vulnerability: Imperfections and limits help us grow and connect with others.
Practical idea: a meeting or testimony on how mistakes and failures can teach us a lot.
Active dreaming: Not just passive wishes, but imagining and building the future with creativity.
Practical idea: a workshop to imagine future cities or ways of life.
Passions against emptiness: In a world that often suppresses dreams, passions give meaning to life.
Practical idea: stories of people who found strength through their passion.
Passions that unite the world: Passions speak a universal language, stronger than differences.
Practical idea: video connections with young people from other countries to share dreams and passions.
Important Note
Technology will serve as a tool, but it will never replace the authentic encounter between people. At the heart of everything remains the human being and their relationships.
