As reported by Agência Ecclesia, during an audience on 4 January 2025 with teachers, educators, and parent associations, Pope Francis highlighted the importance of schools as spaces to “imagine peace” and strongly condemned practices such as bullying.

The pontiff called on young people to reject all forms of violence in their daily interactions, stating: “If, in school, you wage war among yourselves, if you intimidate boys and girls who have problems, you are preparing for war, not peace! Please, never engage in bullying!”

Pope Francis reinforced the central role of education in building a fairer and more peaceful society, where empathy and respect for differences are taught from an early age. He urged teachers, parents, and students to unite their efforts to transform schools into safe and inclusive environments where every child and young person can grow with dignity and confidence.

This appeal reflects Pope Francis’s vision of education as a foundational pillar for constructing peace and combating all forms of exclusion and violence, including bullying.