Artist introduces 'Super Pope'

Pope Francis was officially proclaimed a superhero. His weapons include a rosary hanging around his neck, and a briefcase pack with values, and even a scarf of his favorite soccer team's colors.

This piece of street art depicting the Pope in mid-flight popped up in Borgo Pio, a neighborhood right next to the Vatican, and it caught people's attention quick. The artist, signed as "Maupal”, expressed why he designed Pope Francis as a superhero.

MAURO PALLOTTA
"Maupal,” Urban Artist
"To me, he's the only man in power in the world, one of the few, that is now using his power for the people, to do good. He does it with facts, without regard to what anyone else thinks of the Church or religion. I think he's taken up the role of a superhero.”

The Roman artist said his piece would be incomplete without the scarf of the San Lorenzo de Almagro soccer club. And it's no coincidence that it peeks out from the Pope's suitcase, full of values.

MAURO PALLOTTA
"Maupal,” Urban Artist
"He carries his simple black suitcase, with all Christian values possible. But there's also this humanity. He believes in and he loves his football team, so that makes him down to earth.”

"Maupal” is very satisfied with his work, and says he doesn't care if the city hall decides to get rid of his piece.

But neighbors disagree. They want a piece of Pope Francis to remain on their streets, and have even taken action.

SEBASTIANO FARACI
Neighbor
"We saw a city van arrive this morning, and we asked ourselves 'what's going on?' And they said: Police called us, so we're here to take it down. Then I said; 'No, There are many worse things in Rome, why would you take down something of the Pope?'”

It's unclear what will happen eventually to the Pope's art piece. But whether it stays or goes, in just a short time, it's already become another pop monument to the people's Pope.