Little boy upstages Pope Francis, sits in Papal Chair

Little boy upstages Pope Francis, sits in Papal Chair

AP
Vatican City, October 31, 2013

In this image taken from TV footage taken on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013  a young boy, no name available, sits in the chair of 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. AP photo

 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 on 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.