Pope Francis turns 82 on Monday (December 17) but he began celebrating his birthday a day early with a group of sick children.
The pope was led to a huge birthday cake by some of the children who are treated at a pediatric dispensary at an event at the Vatican on Sunday (December 16).
The dispensary run by a charity, provides support from doctors and nurses to some 400 children, many from immigrant families.
Thanking the audience, the pope said that working with children is never easy but it teaches grown-ups to better understand the world.
Pope Francis also joked that he hoped he wouldn't get indigestion from such a big cake.