A white zucchetto worn by Pope Francis is set to raise almost £70,000 for charity on the auction website eBay.
Italian television presenter Damiano Cavadi put the zucchetto, or skull cap, on eBay to raise money for charity after persuading Francis to do a swap with him.
The host of the satirical show "Le Iene" (The Hyenas) arrived at St Peter’s Square in Rome, at first light to ensure he was in pole position for Francis’ weekly general audience in the Vatican.
As Francis boarded his white popemobile, the presenter accosted him and offered him a new white zucchetto in exchange for the one he was wearing.
Television footage shows Francis stopping the jeep and inspecting the cap, before agreeing to the swap.
The cap was put up for auction on Wednesday and by the following day had already attracted a bid of €105,000 (£82,450), which has since been withdrawn.
With two days to go, the highest bid is €89,050 (£70,000).
The money raised will be given to an Italian charity working to reduce child mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the programme-makers said.
Top: the online auction page and above: Pope Francis looks at the new zucchetto before swapping it for his own and passing his into the crowd. Photo: Mediaset.it
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