Another surprise from Pope Leo XIV - the Pope received more than 600 children at the Vatican. Half were young Ukrainians who are welcomed by Caritas Italy during this summer.
The other half are from the summer school at the Vatican. What they all wanted was the Pope's autograph.
And, of course, to ask him questions.
Dear Pope Leo. We children in yellow have Mass this afternoon. As a child, did you also go to Mass often? What did you like to do as a child like us?
Here is the Pope's response…
LEO XIV
Of course. Always every Sunday with mom and dad, but from the age of six or so I was also an altar boy in the parish. And so, before going to class, at the school - which was a parish school - there was mass at 6:30 in the morning and mom always woke us up and said "let's go to Mass".
But there were more questions. Another child asked the Pope how to welcome those who are different. In a touching moment of goodwill, the Pope changed languages so the Ukrainian children would understand.
LEO XIV
Well, first of all, I want to say it in English because today, this morning, there is this whole group of kids, young people, children who came from Ukraine, right? And many - I already understood - speak in English.
So I want to say hello to all of you from Ukraine. Experiences like this, this to meet one another, come from different countries, different lands, different languages. So many differences that may be among us - is so important to live the experience of an encounter, to meet one another, to respect one another and to learn to be friends with one another.
And finally, these little ones couldn't leave without a photo with the Pope…
CA
TR: GS
