Vatican City - There was a surprise moment at Pope Francis'
weekly audience on Wednesday when a child walked on stage, running
around and playing with a Swiss guard in high uniform.
"If he wants to play here, leave him," an amused Francis told the
boy's mother, who went up to fetch him and tell the pope that she was
a fellow Argentine.
"He's from Argentina - undisciplined!" the pope said, chuckling to
his aide, German Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, who was sitting to his
right in the Paul VI Audience Hall.
At one point, the blond boy was joined by a little girl, presumably
his sister, and the pair walked behind the pope's chair holding
hands.
When he took the microphone, Francis told his audience that the boy
was speech-impaired and praised him for being "free. In an
undisciplined way, but free."
"When Jesus says we have to be like children, it means we need to
have the freedom that a child has before his father. I think this
child preaches to all of us. And let us ask for the grace that he may
be able to speak," the pope concluded.