Pope speaks about childhood and early mornings as an altar boy

Pope Leo XIV spoke publicly about his childhood in Chicago for the first time as pontiff Thursday, recalling that from the age of six he used to get up early to serve as an altar boy at the 6:30 a.m. Mass before going to school.

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Leo shared the memories during an unscripted visit with the children of Vatican employees who are attending the Holy See’s summer camp. They were joined by other children, including Ukrainian young people, who are attending summer programs run by Italy’s Caritas charity.

The visit, which was not announced in advance, took place in the Vatican’s main audience hall, which was decked out with huge inflatable bouncy castles for the estimated 600 kids.