Little boy climbs on papal chair, steals the show as Pope Francis leads pep rally for families

In this Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, a young boy, no name available, hugs Pope Francis as he delivers his speech during an audience with families in St. Peter's Square gathered for the Pontifical Council for the Family's plenary assembly, at the Vatican. A young boy, part of a group of children sitting around the stage where the pontiff was delivering his message to families, played around Pope Francis as he continued delivering his speech, occasionally patting the boy's head. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano) (The Associated Press)

In this Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis touches a boy's head, no name available, as he delivers his speech during an audience with families in St. Peter's Square gathered for the Pontifical Council for the Familyís plenary assembly, at the Vatican. A young boy, part of a group of children sitting around the stage where the pontiff was delivering his message to families, played around Pope Francis as he continued delivering his speech, occasionally patting the boy's head. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano) (The Associated Press)

In this Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis reads his message as a young boy plays in front of him on the stage during an audience with families in St. Peter's Square, gathered for the Pontifical Council for the Family's plenary assembly, at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. A young boy, part of a group of children sitting around the stage where the pontiff was delivering his message to families, played around Pope Francis as he continued delivering his speech, occasionally patting the boy's head. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano) (The Associated Press)

Pope Francis was delivering a homily but a little boy stole the show.

Francis was speaking in St. Peter's Square about the important role grandparents play when a little boy walked up behind him and confidently climbed up and sat down on the pontiff's white chair.

The Vatican says Francis was surrounded by elderly faithful and their grandchildren Saturday night at a rally to encourage family life when the boy came up, wearing a striped shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Acting like an indulgent grandpa, Francis let the boy explore the area undisturbed before tens of thousands of people. The pope smiled while reading his speech as the boy sat in the empty chair, gazed up at him and even at one point clung to the pontiff's legs.