VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) – For the third year running, the Vatican Gardens have hosted a children’s summer camp, where the young children of Vatican City State and Holy See employees are invited to spend five weeks of their summer.
The “Youth Summer Camp in the Vatican,” pioneered by Father Franco Fontana, a Salesian priest, offers children a host of games and recreational activities during a 10-hour daily schedule, but dedicates little time to prayer and Christian formation.
Running from July 4 to August 5, 230 children between 5 and 13 years of age were invited “on a journey to discover the theme of dreaming big and making ‘Dream Giants,” according to promotional materials for the summer camp.
The theme for the 5-week program, “Dream Big,” focused on Roald Dahl’s “The BFG,” the story of which “brings to light themes such as the importance of the group, of sharing, of will-power, and chasing dreams,” the website reads. “We will accompany the children to discover a place where they can express themselves freely, try new sports, make new friends, and help each other in the challenges of every day.”
The camp takes place within the Vatican City which is decked out with toys and equipment for sports and activities for the duration of the youth camp. The organizers place a strong emphasis on the availability of a swimming pool, in which the children can “play and cool off.” Parents who work at the Vatican can send their child to the summer camp for €70 per week, with a small discount offered for additional children.
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Broken up into three age categories, the daily program consists mainly of “dances, group games, sports activities, artistic workshops, training activities, shows, and daily challenges,” according to the dedicated website. “All the proposed activities have been designed thinking of the different age groups of children with a single great purpose: to dream together and to educate through play.”
“This is the time to remember that God dreams with us, because children are the subject of his most beautiful dreams,” the organizers wrote.
The only mention of prayer is at the very beginning of the day: the “youth summer camp” hymn is recited followed by prayer, all lodged somewhere between breakfast at 9 a.m. and activities commencing at 10 a.m., according to the official schedule.
Much emphasis, however, is placed on the camp’s “COVID-19 Safety Protocol,” which requires children to have their temperature monitored and use hand sanitizer and states that all equipment will be regularly sanitized. The use of face masks was regulated in accordance with the Vatican City State rules which “strongly encouraged” their use while no longer requiring them.
No COVID jab mandate appeared to be in place.
Pope Francis met with the children on Wednesday following his general audience, delivering a short greeting to the parents and thanking camp workers.
Last year’s Vatican youth camp centered on the Pope’s 2014 encyclical Laudato Sí and asked children to “reflect on ecological issues” as “the key to a better world,” according to Salesian daily ANS. The children were also asked to consider “what is the true meaning of being a Christian, this way of thinking within the world and creation.”