[1/5] A pastry chef stands beside cookies with Pope Francis images ahead of his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro NunesLISBON, July 26 (Reuters) - As Lisbon gears up for a long visit by Pope Francis next week, a local pastry shop has rolled out a brand-new treat to mark the occasion: a cookie with the pontiff's picture on it that is already selling fast. The idea began as an in-house joke between one of the owners of Balcao do Marques, Fernando Santos, and his pastry chefs. The city-centre pastry shop is close to one of the venues where Francis will attend World Youth Day, a global gathering of young Catholics that runs from Aug. 1-6. Their design features an edible printed image of the pope set on a home-made cookie decorated with icing and coloured sugar sprinkles.

---

Persons: Pope Francis, Pedro Nunes LISBON, Marques, Fernando Santos, Francis, Santos, he'll, it's, Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira, Pedro Nunes, Andrei Khalip, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Lisbon, Balcao