Although the role of Pope requires contemplation of the weightiest issues facing humanity, it also carries a duty that has its own unique challenges – dealing with the public. 

Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88, had his share of amusing moments while serving as the supreme pontiff, in part thanks to his desire to make himself available to the people. 

During his time leading the Catholic Church, he had a speech interrupted by an unruly boy climbing on stage and had to slap away the hand of a woman in St Peter’s Square when she would not release it. 

On other occasions, he was unafraid to show his light-hearted side – such as when he donned a red nose at the wedding of two charity workers in 2013.

Pope Francis chuckled when a child invaded the stage as he prepared to address an audience at the Vatican in 2018

Pope Francis’s white skullcap had a history of taking flight in strong winds

The Pope had to slap away the hand of an overzealous worshipper in St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Eve 2019

Boy climbs on stage and interrupts speech

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Intruders running onto stage and interrupting a speech by a major global figure is usually no laughing matter, but even Pope Francis was left chuckling by a security breach in 2018.

A young boy, who was deaf, secured himself a surprise audience with the Pope by climbing onto stage and running up to him, during an address at Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. 

The youngster had escaped his mother and managed to outwit security before clambering onto stage.

When he got to the top he paused, looked at the Pope who then burst out laughing, before the boy walked towards a guardsman. 

The boy then began pulling the sleeve of a Swiss guard who was standing nearby. 

‘Leave him, leave him to play here,’ the Pope said as the boy, whom he said was speech-impaired, rolled around in front of him on the carpet. 

Pope Francis then beckoned the boy and his mother over so he could speak to them, before chatting to the boy and his mother as he stroked his head. 

The boy wandered over and started examining the outfit of a guard standing close to the Pope

There was a laughter in the Vatican when the boy ran onto stage and met the Pope

The boy’s mother rushed onto stage – but was given an audience with the Pope nonetheless

Pope slaps woman’s hand to free himself

Pope Francis will be remembered for the benevolence and humanity he displayed during his public duties, but there were a few occasions when cracks started to show in his composure.

On one such occasion, he had been greeting worshippers in St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Eve 2019 when a woman grabbed hold of his hand. 

But as he attempted to turn away, the woman refused to let go and a look of visible discomfort shot across his face as she wrenched his arm back towards her. 

The Pope slapped the woman’s hand to free himself from her clutch, before turning away, ashen-faced.

He later apologised for the ‘bad example’ he had set, saying: ‘We lose patience many times.’

The Pope apologised for slapping the hand of a woman who refused to let go of him

The Pope was visibly annoyed at being manhandled by the woman as he greeted worshippers

Pope Francis meets ‘mini me’ 

In 2014, a 19-month-old boy made a star turn at the Pope’s general audience in Vatican City by showing up in full pontiff costume. 

Toddler Daniele De Sanctis was handed up to a delighted Pope Francis as he passed the boy’s family in St Peter’s Square and kissed him on the head. 

Unfortunately, despite his impeccable costume, the child did not appear to enjoy meeting the actual Pope so much – and burst into tears.

The ‘mini me’ did not enjoy meeting the Pope when he was handed up to him in St Peter’s Square

A hat prone to lift-off 

Pope Francis had a history of losing his headware – with his white skull cap, known as a zucchetto, regularly blown off in gusty winds, or even snatched by children.

It took flight during a speech he was giving in windy conditions on one occasion and as he was disembarking a flight on another.

The Pope was all smiles when a cheeky child took off his zucchetto as he held him aloft in the Vatican in 2013, but was able to retrieve it a few moments later.

In 2015, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter David O’Reilly swapped hats with the Pope on a plane to Cuba. 

Mr O’Reilly handed the Pope a white zucchetto he had bought, which the pontiff tried on before replying – ‘un poco grande’, which means ‘a bit big’.  He then handed the hat back to the reporter. 

The skullcap of Pope Francis was known to take flight as he disembarked planes

It even blew off during an address he was giving outdoors

But Pope Francis was rarely flustered when his skullcap took to the skies

Cracking a joke on TV

Pope Francis could show levity even when discussing serious matters, as he demonstrated in a TV interview last year. 

Speaking to CBS 60 Minutes about the migration, he said with a smile to host Norah O’Donnell, who is Irish-American: ‘They say that you Irish migrated and brought the whisky, and the Italians migrated and brought the Mafia. 

‘It’s a joke, don’t take it badly.’ 

He went on to recognise the suffering experienced by some migrants.  

Pope Francis quipped ‘it’s a joke, don’t take it badly’ as he cracked wise about American immigration during an interview

He went on to recognise the suffering experienced by some migrants.

Ambushed by nuns 

Pope Francis proved to be quite a hit with the ladies on a visit to Naples in 2015.

During a meeting with prelates in Naples Cathedral, he was swarmed by a group of excited nuns who were desperate to meet him. 

They had come from a cloistered environment, meaning they rarely left their nunneries, but special permission was granted to a lucky few for the Pope’s cathedral visit. 

Their enthusiasm reached such a pitch that Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, joked the sisters were going to ‘eat him’. 

The nuns were given special permission to leave their cloistered environment to meet the pope in Naples

Another cheeky child steals the show

In 2013, a child made himself the star of the show when he went up to the papal throne in front of St Peter’s Basilica and insisted on standing next to him as he watched a service.

The boy resisted efforts by the pontiff’s entourage to shepherd him away as he greeted worshippers – and the Pope even let him sit on his throne. 

A young boy took centre stage in 2013 by insisting on standing at the Pope’s side

But Pope Francis was understanding – and even let the boy sit on the papal throne

A surprise visit to a record shop 

Pope Francis left locals surprised in 2022 after making an unexpected visit to a record store in Rome to bless the premises.

The pontiff, who is a lover of classical music and opera, was seen stepping out of Stereosound, located near the Pantheon, with an LP record in hand.

The head of the Catholic Church had visited Stereosound to bless the record store after a renovation.

The shop owners were understood to be longtime friends of Pope Francis, who had previously spoken of the power of music and was said to enjoy tango as well as classical composers.

The pontiff, who is a lover of classical music and opera, was seen stepping out of Stereosound, located near the Pantheon, with an LP record in hand in 2022

Pope Francis had previously spoken of the power of music and was said to enjoy tango as well as classical composers

Tequila for knee pain

Pope Francis made light of his bad knee in 2022 – by joking he needed a shot of tequila for his pain. 

At the time, he had been required to use a wheelchair and cane to get around, as well as undergoing physical therapy. 

In viral footage, the Pope was riding in the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square when he stopped near a group of Mexican seminarians from the Legion of Christ who asked how his knee was. 

‘Do you know what I need for my knee?’ Francis asked them from the popemobile. ‘Some tequila.’ The seminarians laughed and promised to deliver a bottle to the Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived. 

Pope Francis made light of his knee pain when talking to some worshippers from Mexico

After telling them he needed some tequila for his bad knee, the Mexican contingent offered to have some sent to the Pope’s residence in the Vatican

Red nose 

The Pope showed he had a sense of humour as well as a caring side in 2013, when he donned a red nose at the wedding of members of a charity that uses clowns to cheer up children.

Pope Francis appeared at the Vatican to congratulate the newlyweds from the Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus who were getting married there.

As the pair came down the steps, he took the opportunity to show his support for the charity by donning the universal symbol of comedy.

Pope Francis appeared at the Vatican to congratulate the newlyweds from the Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus who were getting married there

Taking on the comedians 

The Pope met more than 100 comedians at the Vatican last year – where he told them ‘you can even laugh at God’ while pulling a clownish gesture. 

He was hosting comedians including Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, and Conan O’Brien.

‘You unite people, because laughter is contagious,’ the pontiff told the assembled group, adding that he has prayed for 40 years for a good sense of humor.

‘While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. How much we need to learn from you!’, he said.

The Vatican said the comedians were invited to ‘celebrate the beauty of human diversity’ and that the Pope ‘recognizes the significant impact that the art of comedy has on the world of contemporary culture.’

Pope Francis met Jimmy Fallon and dozens of other comedians at The Vatican

The Pope shook hands with Whoopi Goldberg as he praised the importance of comedy