Obama meets baby Pope at White House: tiny Vicar of Christ wins first prize for Popemobile Halloween costume

Dressing your child as the Pope seems to be a very reliable way of delighting world leaders – with the real Pope bursting into laughter on meeting a baby version of himself earlier this year

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet a young child dressed as the Pope and riding in a 'Popemobile' as he hands out treats to children trick-or-treating for Halloween on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, October 30, 2015 (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

President Obama has been brought to laughter by a tiny baby dressed as the Pope, giving the child’s outfit top prize at the White House’s traditional Halloween event.

The first family of the US held their Halloween event at the White House, decorating the building with spooky props and performers and handing sweets to local children. But the show was stolen by a baby dressed as a Pope, complete with white Popemobile and red shoes.

The little Pope appeared not to understand the importance of the meeting, and looked mostly confused and startled. But the adults around him – including the guardian who was dressed up as a bodyguard and was driving the Popemobile – delighted in the outfit.

Top prize goes to Lil' Pope. #HappyHalloween https://t.co/WJo1nYUWup

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 30, 2015

Apparently unable to believe what had happened, or starstruck at the meeting, the White House account posted another picture of Lil’ Pope later on. It noted that the Pope had just been to the US, but was apparently already back again.

On Pope Francis’s trip to the US in September, he burst into laughter when he came across a baby dressed as him. That Baby Pope didn’t have a Popemobile, but was wearing the traditional white cassock and the mitre headdress – with the real Pope telling the baby one’s parents that they had “a great sense of humour”.

At Halloween, the Obamas invite children from local schools as well as those from military families along to the White House, which is decorated especially for the occasion.

A performer suspended above U.S. President Barack Obama (L) during a Halloween event at the South Lawn of the White House October 30, 2015 in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The children received sweets as well as baseball cards decorated with pictures of the President’s dogs, Bo and Sunny.

Other outfits included Minions and firefighters. One adult was at the event dressed as AC/DC’s Malcolm Young.

The account also shared a picture from inside the White House’s Oval Office of Mr Obama playing with Ella Rhodes, the daughter of deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes.

Ella was wearing an elephant costume for Halloween.