Rome: A growing Catholic prayer app for children is preparing for one of its biggest missions yet, inviting at least one million young people around the world to take part in a special Advent prayer campaign beginning later this week.

The app, called Theo, is designed to help children and their parents pray together through simple stories, scripture reflections and short meditations. Its creators announced that the Advent program will run from November 30 to December 24 and will guide families through a 25 day spiritual journey as Christmas approaches.

The Advent campaign features Theodore, an animated donkey character introduced as a descendant of the donkey that carried the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem. Through this character, the app offers daily stories, songs, discussions for parents and children, and readings from the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke.

The app team says the program is most suited for children aged four to twelve. The aim is to help families make prayer an everyday habit during the Advent season. Developers say the intention is not to replace the role of parents but to support them in sharing faith at home.

Theo has gained strong attention since its launch about seven months ago. The team reports that more than two million users have already joined the platform. Apart from seasonal programs, the app includes daily prayers, bedtime stories, saint stories, meditations, affirmations and even novenas, making it a broad faith resource for young users.

Some parents who use the app have shared positive feedback about how it helps children connect with scripture in a simple way. Others have raised concerns about technical problems and difficulty canceling free trials, pointing to areas where improvement may be needed as the platform grows. Despite this, developers say they are working to improve performance as more families join ahead of Advent.

With its new campaign, Theo hopes to bring children from different countries together in prayer during a season that holds deep meaning for Christian families. The app’s creators say they want to make Advent more engaging and accessible, especially for young believers who are discovering the story of Christmas for the first time.