Pope Francis began his historic trip to the United States on Tuesday when he landed in Washington, D.C. His next stop is New York City, and fortunately, the religious leader seems to have his priorities straight regarding local cuisine.
Father Hernán Paredes, the pope's longtime friend, told Fox 5 New York that when Francis visits New York, he has one goal: eating a slice of pizza.
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New Yorkers are more than happy to accommodate such a request. Several pizzerias set out to impress the pope, creating special Sicilian pies in the Vatican's colors.
Tony Salihaj, the chef at Bleecker Street Pizza, made a special pie for the papal visit, featuring an edible likeness of Francis.
Salihaj used ricotta cheese for Francis' robes, anchovies for his staff, bell peppers for embroidery and a ricotta/raspberry dressing for his skin. Thus, pizza pope was born.
Now only one question remains: if Francis is a fork-and-knife or with-his-hands type of pizza eater.