Walking in Belmont, the “Little Italy of the Bronx”, New York and home to Artuso Pastry, a bakery and cafe that is gearing up for Pope Francis’ visit with a special edition dessert.

Traditionally known as a “black and white” cookie, a signature New York shortbread pastry with chocolate and vanilla icing, the family-owned business came up with the idea for a papal variation during Pope Benedict’s visit in 2008.

Atop the cookie, the vanilla icing becomes a tasty paste for edible paper, printed with edible color ink, featuring Pope Francis’ face.

The bakery’s manager, said some Catholics are afraid to eat it.

Some of them want to frame it, some of them want to freeze it, some people are afraid to eat it, they think it’s a sin to eat it, and some people are the complete opposite and they think it’s a blessing to eat it and miracles might come from it,

At $2.95 a piece, sales have rocketed. Baker Sergio Hernandez said making them is a source of pride.

As a Catholic, it gives me joy to place the image of the Pope on a cookie. I am proud to be one of the people that’s doing this.

But not everyone is sold. Doris Murray, a loyal client at the bakery and fan of Pope Francis, thinks it’s all a gimmick.

This whole cookie situation,all the pictures，or giving money to an organisation that he advocates for and believe so.

For the bakery’s manager, it’s about creating a satisfying experience. Her goal is for Pope Francis to try his cookie for himself.