A German man masquerading as a bishop tried to infiltrate a meeting of cardinals and bishops at the Vatican this morning, getting past a checkpoint before being stopped.

Ralph Napierski, dressed in fake bishop’s vestments, walked through a checkpoint manned by Swiss Guards but was stopped before entering the Paul VI Hall, where the meeting was being held.

He was seeing posing for photos with a number of cardinals before being noticed and ejected.

Security guards said they realised he was an imposter because his purple sash was too short and he was wearing a black fedora (cap).

 

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