In his traditional Christmas message, King Philippe of Belgium said he was very touched by an emotional video he received from pupils from Leuven, who highlighted child suffering in war zones around the world.
In his 11th Christmas address, the King recounts the letter and a video from pupils in the first year of the Sancta Maria secondary school in Leuven. The pupils expressed their incomprehension at the level of human suffering when faced with images of children who are victims of war. They called on the King to be a voice for the children without a voice.
King Philippe called the letter moving and hopeful. "They sympathise with other children who live far away from them, in a world where dreams are shattered even before they have a chance to blossom. Their questions touch me deeply. I understand their distress, their sense of powerlessness."
The letter was sent in October and the class was recently received at Laeken Castle, the Palace confirmed.
Reasons to keep hoping
Philippe called on adults to recognise their responsibility. "Their empathy must awaken our conscience. We cannot stand by indifferent in the face of so many violations of international law."
With this line, he referenced the many reports of possible human rights violations in Ukraine and Gaza, among others. The high number of civilian casualties raises concerns, as does the impact of this violence on children.
"These young people are asking us to give them reasons to keep hoping," King Philippe said. "Reasons for hope are always there. To hope is not to wait passively for a better future. To hope is to commit to building, to move together towards a more just and respectful world, where every child is welcomed as a treasure of promise."
He therefore called on Heads of State and politicians to "to ensure a world order based on international law, peace and the protection of all – first and foremost the most vulnerable among us, the children."
King Philippe also pointed to the responsibility of "each of us" to contribute to "a fairer world, that respects the right and dignity of everyone." But he also acknowledged that the challenges of our time – the geopolitical upheavals, the climate, the fragile economy, the technological revolution – can be "overwhelming". It is "up to us" to write the future together, he said.
"Many people are leading by example in this. Tirelessly, they are committed to community dialogue, social cohesion, health, education and justice," he said. "As the year draws to a close, the Queen and I would like to thank them warmly for that and encourage them to continue."
New year, new government(s)?
Lastly, King Philippe touched briefly on Belgium's long government formation. For several weeks, negotiations at the federal level have again been stalling, but the Brussels-Capital Region has not yet formed a new government either.
"In the coming year, we should finally see all our new governments at work. We count on them to ensure that our country, its institutions, businesses and citizens, can look to the future with confidence," he said. "Let this time around Christmas and New Year be a source of inspiration, renewal and hope for each of us."
"On behalf of the Queen and our entire family, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
The King's full speech can be found on the Royal Palace's website in Dutch, French and German.
