When Pope Pius XII blessed American troops following their liberation of Rome, an infantryman in the audience captured the photo above.

A British soldier who was there recalled the event in his diary:

My driver was a devout Roman Catholic whilst I was a practising Wesleyan Methodist. We joined the American soldiers hurrying into the Papal Palace, and we soon packed into a large room. A short time later the Papal guard sprang to attention, and through a large door emerged the Pope, carried in a 'carriage' high on the shoulders of six strong bearers. He was dressed all in white and made a truly impressive sight.

He alighted from his 'carriage' and the stood in front of what was an audience of several hundred American Servicemen - and two English soldiers. The Pope then addressed us in quite good English. He thanked us for our past in liberating Rome and then said he would give a general blessing following which he would pass amongst the giant crowd and give a personal blessing to six people.

Slowly he passed amongst the throng and as he neared us I could sense the excitement of my colleague. Here he was, a Roman Catholic, hoping and no doubt praying that he would be a chosen one. Suddenly, His Holiness stopped right in front of us. He stretched out his arm and his hand then gently rested upon my head! What a fantastic moment as the Pontiff gave me his personal blessing (in Latin), and handed me a Crucifix.

For the rest of my war years I continued to wear that Crucifix around my neck on the string which always carried my two identity discs.

This without doubt was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life and one that I will treasure for ever. Arthur Cope

On the other hand, if the Ian Paisley school is to be believed, a papal blessing outstrips the Curse of Tutankhamen among Things to be Avoided at All Costs. Not only vampires recoil at holy water. So do Orangemen.