“Never bully, do you understand?”. With this phrase repeated six times, Pope Francis launched a heartfelt appeal to the approximately two thousand students, teachers and educators gathered today, January 4, in the Paul VI Hall. A strong and direct message, against one of the most serious consequences of the school context: bullying. “It destroys life – he underlined – and prepares for war”. A clear contrast with the educational mission, which must instead lay the foundations for a “more just and fraternal” world.
The meeting took place on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of three important Catholic associations: AIMC (Italian Association of Catholic Teachers), UCIIM (Italian Catholic Union of Teachers, Directors, Educators, Trainers) and AGeSC (Association of Parents of Catholic Schools).
School as an engine of hope
Pope Francis recalled the fundamental role of schools in training new generations, especially in a period marked by environmental, social and economic crises. “You are called to develop and transmit a new culture”, said the Pontiff, “based on the meeting between generations, on inclusion and on the discernment of the true, the good and the beautiful”. A culture which, in the Pope’s words, must fuel a collective responsibility, necessary to face global challenges, such as the climate crisis and the “great challenge of peace”.
An “educational catastrophe”
Francis reiterated the urgency of responding to what he called an “educational catastrophe”: 250 million children around the world are excluded from education, often forced to work or rummage through rubbish to survive. “It pains me – he confided – when I see children who do not have access to education, exploited or abandoned. It’s tough, and there are a lot of them.”
A reminder that the Pope has already launched in the video message for the prayer intentions for the month of January, in which he highlighted the devastating impact of wars, migration and poverty on education.
The family at the center of education
A central theme for the Pontiff is the role of the family: “The family is the heart of education, don’t forget it”. Francesco told an emblematic anecdote, observing a family sitting at a table, each immersed in their cell phone: “Please, let’s talk in the family! Dialogue is what makes us grow.”
Never bully
Francis urged the children to become promoters of peace, recalling that “if at school there are wars between you, or you bully those in difficulty, you are preparing for war, not for peace”. In chorus, the kids repeated with the Pope: “Never bully!”. An appeal that underlined the value of respect and dignity of every person, especially the most vulnerable.
A good teacher is a man of hope
The Pope then wanted to thank teachers and educators, defining them as “men and women of hope”, capable of accompanying young people on a journey of human growth. “Not a naive hope – he specified – but rooted in reality and supported by the belief that every educational effort has value”.
No to a “container” school
The school, concluded Francesco, must not be a simple “container” of knowledge, but a living community in which students, teachers and families walk together. “Never forget where you come from – he urged – but don’t remain anchored to the past. Look at the present of the school, which is the future of society.”
The final invitation is to hope and concrete action, so that the school becomes a true laboratory of peace, capable of transforming the world.
