Three-year-old girl steals Pope's skullcap

A cheeky three-year-old girl had caused a stir on her first day in Rome after stealing the Pope’s skullcap off his head.

Estella Westrick, from Atlanta, was taken by her godfather, a Vatican aide, to meet Pope Francis after his Wednesday audience.

Video shows the moment her godfather Mountain Butorac lifts the little girl up to receive a kiss from the Pope.

Just as Pope Francis plants a kiss on Estella’s cheek she reaches up and plucks his skullcap, known as a zucchetto, straight off his head.

Clearly stunned, the Pope and the crowd around him immediately burst into laughter at the outrageous move.

Mountain Butorac told CNN that his goddaughter appeared to be a little bit nervous before her meeting with the Pope.

"Then she stole his hat. It was hilarious. Everyone was laughing, including the Pope."

"It's her first full day in Rome. Who knows what she will get up to tomorrow," Mr Butorac joked.