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Superhero Pope

Published:Sunday | February 9, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Italian artist Mauro Pallotta poses in front of his graffiti depicting Pope Francis as Superman. - AP

VATICAN CITY (AP):

Rome police recently scrubbed the wall near the Vatican where 'SuperPope' had been displayed, showing Francis as Superman in flight and clutching his black satchel of values to spread to the world.

Artist Mauro Pallotta had put the image up in homage to Francis. Pallotta's agent, Margaret Porpiglia, said the artist is now hoping to avoid a city fine, but is considering making a street art piece depicting 'anti-hero' Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino.

The white-caped crusader pope, which was actually painted on paper and affixed to the wall with water-based glue, had drawn immense popular interest around the Borgo neighbourhood of tiny cobblestoned streets near St Peter's Square.