Spider-Man Meets Pope Francis: Real-Life Hero Shakes Hand With Pope in Vatican City

A real-life superhero dressed as Spider-man shook the hands of Pope Francis in Vatican City. The encounter between Pope Francis and the man wearing the superhero outfit happened during the pope's weekly audience on Wednesday, June 23, Daily Mail reported.

Identified as Matteo Villardita, the 28-year-old Italian lined up with the people as Pope Francis faced his weekly audience in Vatican City.

Villardita was an attention grabber during the occasion, as he took selfies with the children who also went to the Vatican courtyard.

Italian 'Spider-man' Meets Pope Francis

Matteo Villardita, who dressed up as Spider-man, turned out to be a real-life hero as he uses his costume to brighten up and make sick children in hospitals happy.

The children in the hospital were the reason why Villardita lined up to meet Pope Francis. Marvel reported that the man asked Pope Francis to pray for the children in the hospitals, as well as their families. The 28-year-old Italian 'Spider-man' told AP TV that he also handed a spare mask to Pope Francis.

Matteo Villardita noted that the mask he gave to the pope was a sign to tell him that through Spider-man's eyes, he saw "pain from sick children in the hospitals" daily.

"It was very exciting because Pope Francis immediately understood my mission," the real-life hero dressed as Spider-man said.

The 28-year-old Italian made it his mission to help hospitalized, and ailing children to find some joy and smile, such as those who were residing in Vatican's pediatric hospital.

He also surpassed his limits during Italy's lockdown as he disclosed that he did video calls with thousands of children he was not able to visit.

Spider-man's Matteo Villardita Was Once a Pediatric Patient

Matteo Villardita's devotion came from his experience as he was also a former pediatric patient. He was diagnosed with congenital heart disease and underwent several surgeries to treat the condition.

Because of this, he leads an association for other hospital volunteers who dress up as superheroes. His efforts were recognized as the Vatican described him as a "really good superhero."

The man, who got his inspiration from a 1962 comic published by Marvel, was also awarded an "honorary knighthood" by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Spider-man was one of the most popular and commercially successful superheroes of the Marvel franchise. Just like Peter Parker, who is the fictional character behind the mask of Spider-man, Matteo Villardita also had a different life behind his mask.

Aside from being Spider-man to make the kids happy, he works in a terminal shipping company in the northwestern Liguria region of Italy.

Last month, a man in Brazil wearing a Superman costume also hit the headlines when his stunt went wrong. The Brazilian wannabe superhero was unexpectedly hit by a bus while he was pretending to stop the moving vehicle with his hand to show off his strength.

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