This image of Spider-Man meeting Pope Francis after his General Audience went viral online, reaching all corners of the globe.
Yet under the mask wasn't Peter Parker, but Mattia Villardita, a 27-year-old from Italy who visits sick children in hospitals dressed as the famous superhero.
After being in the hospital for much of his childhood due to a congenital disorder, Mattia says he was inspired to bring joy to children who spend a lot of time in hospitals like he did.
MATTIA VILLARDITA
'I have a personal experience of this, it allows me to understand how the child feels and how their family is feeling, so it is looking going to visit my younger self. When I was a kid I used to dream that Spiderman would come through my window to visit me, so now I have become that dream for these children'.
While he was in Rome to visit a hospital, Mattia was invited to the Pope's Audience, where he personally gave him a Spider-Man mask and made a special prayer request.
MATTIA VILLARDITA
'I gave him a mask and told him that through that mask I see so much suffering on the part of children and their families everyday. I know he already does so, but I asked him to pray for these children and those who are in such great need of his prayers.”
The Pope also had a request for Mattia:
-'There are also many children here who would like to say hello to you'.
-'Thank you Holy Father'.
-'Go say hi to the kids afterwards...'
Just over a week later, Pope Francis was admitted to the same hospital in Rome which Mattia visited. After being discharged, the Pope greeted the same kids who Mattia visited there just a few days before.
MATTIA VILLARDITA
'When I saw the pictures in the news of the Holy Father in the same hallways where I was I got very excited, and I'll admit I would have liked to be with him in that moment to bring some joy to those children'.
Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mattia continues to be a bright spot in the lives of sick children. During Italy's national lockdown, he made over 1,500 video calls to children stuck at home or in hospitals.
JM
