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Pope Francis says bullying at school prepares students for war, not peace

Pope Francis has warned that bullying in schools prepares students for war rather than peace

Via AP news wire
Saturday 04 January 2025 16:58 GMT

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Pope Francis warned that bullying in schools prepares students for war rather than peace, in a speech to Catholic educators gathered at the Vatican on Saturday.

Speaking to about 2,000 Italian teachers, educators and parents, Francis stressed his message against bullying, asking the audience to pledge to fight against it both at school and at home.

The pontiff praised educational efforts at schools to promote peace, noting that ā€œimagining peaceā€ lays the foundations for ā€œa more just and fraternal worldā€ through ā€œevery subject taught and through the creativity of children and young people.ā€

ā€œBut if, at school, you wage war among yourselves or engage in bullying, you are preparing for war, not for peace,ā€ he said

The pope also called for more dialogue within families, emphasizing that ā€œit is dialogue that makes us grow.ā€

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