Weird NewsPope Francisvaticanspider-man

Pope Francis Meets 'Super-hero' In Spider-Man Costume At Vatican

Matteo Villardita, who wears the webslinger outfit to visit kids in hospitals, also gave the Pontiff a spare mask.
AP

VATICAN CITY (AP) — While Pope Francis is usually the star at Vatican gatherings, Spider-Man, or at least an Italian who dresses up like the character, was the attention-grabber among the public lined up in rows during the pontiff’s weekly Wednesday audience.

Matteo Villardita, 28, dons the comic-book and movie super-hero outfit to cheer up hospitalized children, like those at the Vatican’s pediatric hospital which he planned to visit later on Wednesday.

Sweating under his costume in Rome’s heat wave, Villardita said he asked Pope Francis to pray for the children and their families.

The man told AP TV that he gave Francis a spare mask, “as a sign, to tell him that through these eyes I daily see pain from sick children in hospitals.”

Villardita, with a costumed arm, reached out and touched Francis, who wore no mask against COVID-19, on the back on an arm as he greeted the pontiff.

Said Villardita: “It was very exciting because Pope Francis immediately understood my mission.”

Villardita took selfies with youngsters attending the audience in a Vatican courtyard.

The Vatican described Villardita as “really a good super-hero” and quoted him as saying that during Italy’s long months of pandemic lockdown he made more than 1,400 videocalls, since he wasn’t able to visit in person, to help ailing children smile.

 

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Pope Francis Meets President Obama At The White House
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US President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
(03 of19)
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US President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
(04 of19)
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US President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: (L-R) Pope Francis and U.S. President Barack Obama talk in the Oval Office during the arrival ceremony at the White House on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)
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Pope Francis and U.S. President Barack Obama talk in the Oval Office during the arrival ceremony at the White House on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and Pope Francis (L) walk through the colonnade prior to an Oval Office meeting at the White House on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis walk through the Colonnade on their way to a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama stands alongside Pope Francis during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) talks with Pope Francis (L) in an arrival ceremony at the White House on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis speak during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis shake hands during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis wave during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 23, 2015. (credit:JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama greets Pope Francis during an arrival ceremony at the White House on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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President Barack Obama and Pope Francis stand at attention during the playing of the national anthems during a state arrival ceremony for the pope, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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President Barack Obama guides Pope Francis to his chair during a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Pope Francis after this welcoming speech during the state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Pope Francis turns toward President Barack Obama during his welcoming remarks at the state arrival ceremony in his honor on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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