Now, he's "SuperPope," the latest incarnation of Pope Francis, who has rapidly become one of the most popular leaders on the planet.
He made his debut recently, on a street named after the Roman comic playwright Plautus. It's just an ordinary street corner like many in Rome — no notable fountain, sculpture or building to gaze at.
On Wednesday morning, however, crowds gathered, aiming their cameras at a new piece of street art.
Graffiti artist Mauro Palotta says Pope Francis is the only world leader who stands on the side of the people.
It's a wall painting showing the Argentine-born pope airborne, his right fist clenched ahead of him, his white cape and pectoral cross fluttering in the breeze, and in his left hand a briefcase with the word valores, Latin for values.
Peeking out of the bag is a scarf in the blue and red stripes of San Lorenzo, the pope's favorite soccer team.
Unlike Clark Kent, however, the white caped crusader is clearly identifiable by his thick spectacles.
The artist's signature is Maupal, short for Mauro Palotta, who lives in the neighborhood, just under the shadow of St. Peter's dome. He says Pope Francis is the only world leader who stands on the side of the people.
"I tried to make him into a divinity by depicting him like Marvel comics superheroes, who essentially are the modern metaphor for Greek mythology," he says. "Our pop icons are today's version of the ancient gods."
A woman jumps as a friend takes a photo in front of a large drawing of Pope Francis depicting him as a superhero near the Vatican January 29, 2014.
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