Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Neapolitan pizzeria owner presents Pope Francis with pizza after Pontiff says he misses eating out

Enzo Cacialli - whose father gave visiting US president Clinton a pizza in 1994 - handed the Pontiff the special pizza during his visit to the city

Rose Troup Buchanan
Tuesday 24 March 2015 09:26 GMT
Comments
Enzo Cacialli hands over his pizza
Enzo Cacialli hands over his pizza (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

One Neapolitan pizzeria owner decided to take matters into his own hands after he heard Pope Francis lament he could no longer enjoy a pizza unrecognised.

Video captured Enzo Cacialli jogging alongside the famous Pope-mobile as it passed through Naples and triumphantly handing the Pontiff a specially created pizza.

Apparently unimpeded by the Pope’s guard, Mr Cacialli can be seen shouting “Papa! Papa!” and holding aloft a specially decorated Naples-style thin crust pizza.

The pizza, which had “Il Papa” spelled out in dough and topped with yellow cherry tomatoes, was collected by a smiling Pontiff from the vehicle as the assembled crowd erupts in cheers.

Mr Cacialli, whose father made a pizza for visiting president Bill Clinton in 1994, told a local newspaper that the decoration was in homage to the Vatican colours and Papal flag.

The co-owner of Pizzeria Don Ernesto, who in the video can be seen pumping his fist in the air after the successful gift, told Il Mattino he was “full of joy that he accepted a pizza straight from my hands.”

It comes shortly after the Pope gave an interview with Mexican TV station Televista in which he spoke about his two-year rule.

“The only thing I would like is to go out one day, without being recognised, and go to a pizzeria for a pizza,” he told the station.

Now, although it appears unlikely the beloved Pope will ever get his chance to visit a pizzeria incognito, at least he’s got his pizza.

Additional reporting by Associated Press

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in