Kids help pope celebrate 86th birthday with cake, circus performers December 19, 2022By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The day after he turned 86, Pope Francis met with volunteers, family members and children receiving care from a Vatican pediatric clinic. The group of children receiving assistance from the Vatican’s St. Martha Dispensary, a maternal and pediatric clinic, were treated to a show by circus performers in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall Dec. 18, and to a large white sheet cake adorned with one tall candle. The pope thanked his guests for their visit and for a “day of joy that helps us prepare for Christmas.” He also reminded everyone to not forget to pray for the children of Ukraine — “so many children who suffer because of war and they suffer also in other places because of injustice.” Read More Vatican News World cannot remain indifferent to suffering of migrant children, pope says Vatican City mints new coins featuring face of Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV offers prayers, financial assistance to disaster-stricken Colombia Pope Leo XIV urges sisters to foster vocations to religious life in United States Pope Leo night at White Sox baseball park maxes out stadium capacity Pope Leo says Sunday is ‘foundation and kernel’ of liturgical year Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print