Vatican Media
Laughter and curiosity filled the air at the Vatican Summer Camp on Thursday, July 3, as children from both Italian and Ukrainian immigrant families gathered for a season of friendship and fun.
But the highlight of their summer came as a complete surprise: an unscheduled visit from Pope Leo XIV himself.
The Pope delighted the children by joining their activities and answering their questions. When a little Italian girl shyly asked if he had attended Mass as a child, Pope Leo’s eyes lit up with fond memories.
Speaking in Italian, the Holy Father shared a heartfelt recollection:
“As a child, if I went to Mass? Certainly! Every Sunday with mom and dad. But for 6 years or so I was also an altar boy in the parish and so before going to classes, to school, which was a parish school, there was Mass at 6:30 in the morning,” he smiled.
“And mom always woke us up and said ‘Let’s go to Mass.’ And then, serving Mass was always something that I liked a lot because already as a child they had taught me that Jesus is always close, that the best friend is always Jesus and that the Mass was a way to find this friend, to be with Jesus… even before making my First Communion.”
“(At that time, Mass) was in Latin, we still had to learn Latin for the Mass and then later for me it changed to English because I was born in the United States, we spoke English, but for you it would be Italian, but the thing was not so much in which language it was celebrated, but just having that experience of meeting other kids who served Mass together, always the friendship and then this closeness with Jesus in the church.”
The Pope’s story drew smiles and nods from the children.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo also addressed the Ukrainian children in English.
“He highlighted the importance of mutual respect,” Vatican News reported, “and the need to look beyond differences.
“It is important to build bridges, to create friendships,” the Pope said, according to the report. “We can all be friends, brothers, and sisters.”
