Francis invited four children wearing first communion garb to join him on his open-topped Popemobile for a tour of St Peter's Square on Wednesday during his weekly general audience.
The children greeted the crowd with the pontiff, who was wearing a white overcoat to stay warm in chilly, single-digit temperatures.
Francis was left bare-headed after his white papal skullcap reportedly blew off in a gust of wind.
Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world including the Pope's native Argentina attended Wednesday's general audience.
