Vatican Hosts Global Hope Summit to Boost Futures for Conflict-Affected Children

The Global Hope Summit 2026 convened at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum on the Vatican campus, drawing humanitarian, religious and academic figures from groups including World Vision International, Muslim Aid USA, Arigatou International, Harvard University and the Institute for Global Human Flourishing at Baylor University. Speakers noted that nearly 473 million children reside in conflict-affected areas, with 190 million under-five experiencing undernutrition and 50 million forcibly displaced, making immediate survival aid a prerequisite for hope.

Panels emphasized that children’s sense of love and belonging, rooted in diverse spiritual teachings, is vital for their future outlook. A third focus highlighted families as the cradle of hope, encouraging NGOs to partner with faith institutions to support early childhood development, as demonstrated by South African nonprofit Sikunye. Attendees called on adults to nurture children’s aspirations, contribute time or resources to reputable charities, and engage civically to shape policies that protect children worldwide. The summit concluded that while children do not cause wars, they suffer the most, and collective action is needed to secure a hopeful future for them.