Children give Pope Mickey Mouse cap

Pope Benedict, who generally wears a white skull cap known as a “zuchetto,” was given a Mickey Mouse cap with ears yesterday.

But, to the disappointment of photographers who would have had a field day with such a shot, he did not try it on.

A group of young people from Orange County, California — where Disneyland is located — gave the Pope the black cap while they were lunching with him during World Youth Day festivities.

They also gave him a baseball.

According to the young people who briefed reporters about the private lunch, the Pope smiled and squeezed the stress ball, but passed the Mickey Mouse cap to his aides.