Pope Leo’s Kindness with Children is Winning Over the Public

A little girl slipped past Vatican security. What happened next showed the world Pope Leo’s true heart.

This Sunday at Mass in St. Peter’s Square, a moment of pure joy went viral. A little girl slipped past Vatican security and dashed toward Pope Leo XIV, arms outstretched.

Gasps turned into cheers as the Holy Father signaled the guards to stand down and knelt to greet his tiny visitor. The child’s giggles echoed across the Square while Leo’s face glowed with delight.

Within minutes, clips of this tender encounter spread across social media, melting hearts worldwide. It’s a scene that encapsulates the gentle, human touch Pope Leo has brought to his young pontificate, and it’s winning over the world, one hug at a time.

In fact, since his election, Pope Leo’s gentle gestures toward children have captured the hearts of people all over the world.

Moments like this viral encounter show why.

From Shy Beginnings to Spontaneous Encounters

I was present at Pope Leo’s first media audience back in May. He was friendly but visibly reserved — a shy, hesitant new pontiff not quite used to the spotlight. The Italian press even dubbed him the “meek pope” at the time for his soft-spoken demeanor.

When a few eager reporters tried to snag selfies, Leo demurred with an awkward smile and a polite wave.

He stuck closely to his prepared remarks, giving us only brief glimpses of humor or spontaneity in those early days.

But what a difference a few months make.

Today, that cautious newcomer has grown more comfortable in his own skin. And nothing illustrates this transformation better than his face-to-face encounters with young people.

At the massive Jubilee for Youth in late July, Pope Leo truly came alive.

He ditched his script and waded into the cheering crowd of students, reaching out from the popemobile to grasp countless hands.

Then, mounting the stage with a broad grin, he belted out a booming unscripted greeting — “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world!” — sending the 100,000 young pilgrims into rapturous applause.

It was a short phrase, but that spontaneous, heartfelt cry electrified the atmosphere. In that moment, Leo demonstrated that he could connect with kids not just through erudite remarks but also through genuine excitement and joy.

Week after week, similar scenes are playing out on a smaller scale.

During general audiences, Leo often pauses his popemobile to bless infants and chat with children beaming from the barricades. He often kneels down to a child’s eye level, exchanges high-fives and hugs, and even gives the occasional playful fist bump.

One American mother recounted how at a recent audience, Pope Leo spotted her baby — coincidentally named Leo — and couldn’t contain his delight. “You could just see on his face… this joy,” she said, as the pope realized he was holding a little namesake.

It’s clear that these personal encounters, more than any formal address, are where Pope Leo shines. Each time he leans in to smile at a child or clasp a teenager’s hand, his gentle authenticity speaks louder than words.

A Papa Growing into His Role

In embracing these candid moments, Pope Leo has tapped into something powerful: the disarming innocence of children and the goodwill it inspires. His predecessors, Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis, were famed for their rapport with the young, and Leo seems to share that gift for intentional warmth.

Early on, observers wondered if this mild-mannered American pope could truly inspire the masses. Now we have our answer.

By literally meeting kids at their level — kneeling, hugging, blessing, even fist-bumping — Leo XIV has revealed a playful, fatherly side that resonates deeply with the public.

The same pontiff who once appeared uncomfortable posing for photos is now winning smiles with every baby he blesses and every child he greets.

Watching Pope Leo with children, I can’t help but sense a man growing more confident and joyfully alive in his vocation. The timid figure I saw at that first press gathering has given way to a pope who laughs easily and engages freely.

In each face-to-face encounter — whether it’s a shy child’s hug at Mass or a crowd of students roaring at his rallying cry — Leo is finding his voice and the world is falling in love.

His kindness with the littlest among us is proving contagious, softening hearts and boosting his popularity far beyond the Church. In just a short time, Pope Leo has gone from hesitant to heartfelt, truly growing into his role as the people’s beloved “Papa.”

And as that little girl’s fearless embrace showed, sometimes a simple moment of love can speak volumes, renewing the bond between a shepherd and his flock, one child at a time.

Letters from Leo is open to anyone who wants to be informed and inspired by our pope — and to turn that inspiration into action that leaves America and the world more just, less cold, and more alive with hope.

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Thank you for reading. I’ll see you on the road.