Pope's Instagram account 'likes' Brazilian bikini model's photo

Rome: A bikini model has claimed that Pope Francis’ Instagram account liked a racy photo of her dressed in stockings and suspenders.

Natalia Garibotto, 27, said the pontiff’s verified Franciscus account was among the 133,000 that “liked” an image of her standing at a school locker with a white crop-top and a skirt barely reaching her behind.

“My mum may hate my ass pics but the Pope be double-tapping,” the Brazilian joked with Barstool Sports, which also claimed to have seen the apparent papal seal of approval before it was removed.

“Brb on my way to the Vatican,” Garibotto joked with her Twitter followers, along with a prayer emoji.

“At least I’m going to heaven,” she joked of the like on the image in which she teased followers that she would “teach you a thing or two” along with a red devil emoji.

The “like” is no longer there, and it is not clear if Francis controls his own account. But news of the apparent scrolling sparked a slew of devilish reactions and jokes.

“God created dat ass. Just appreciating the Lord’s work, as he should,” one of the model’s followers, Eric Graehler, wrote on Twitter, while another, Collin Little, similarly said, “My mans just admiring God’s creation leave him alone.”

“It just means that your ass is divine,” one fan told Garibotto.

The type of photo that the pontiff may be admiring from the Vatican was not the only part that caused shock. “I’m still trying to get past the fact that the pope has an IG!!!” one commentator noted.