In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L鈥橭sservatore Romano, 19-month-old Daniele De Sanctis, dressed up as a pope, is handed to Pope Francis as he is driven through the crowd during his weekly general audience in St. Peter鈥檚 Square at the Vatican, Wednesday. AP
VATICAN CITY鈥擯ope Francis has a mini-me.
Daniele De Sanctis, 19 months, made a star turn Wednesday as he showed off this year鈥檚 must-have Carnival costume at the pope鈥檚 general audience: white cassock and cape, white skullcap and even a miniature pectoral cross.
Daniele wailed as he was hoisted up to receive a papal kiss as Francis drove by. But he seemed perfectly happy romping through the closed-off sections of St. Peter鈥檚 Square, with his papal outfit getting him VIP treatment from the Swiss Guards.
His mother, Paola Ciabattini, said one of Daniele鈥檚 grandmothers had made the costume, inspired after the boy used a hand towel as a cape after washing his hands.
Paola Ciabattini looks at her 19-month-old son Daniele De Sanctis, dressed up as a pope. AP
鈥淚t was a gesture of love toward the Holy Father,鈥� Ciabattini told The Associated Press. 鈥淲e certainly didn鈥檛 intend to make fun of him or the church in any way.鈥�
During Carnival in Italy, children often go out after school and spend their weekends dressed up in pirate, princess 鈥� and now pope 鈥� costumes. Carnival, also known as mardi gras, marks the period before the church鈥檚 solemn Lenten season begins.