At a fantasy festival in the gardens of a Dutch castle, I stumbled upon a surprising duo: a monk and the Pope, sitting on a bench and sharing a pizza.

The “Pope” stood out—not because of his spot-on vestments, but because he was young, wore sunglasses, and had a relaxed vibe you wouldn’t expect from the papacy. Naturally, I stopped to chat.

Tim, the cosplayer behind the Pope, explained why he chose the costume: “I wanted to do something unexpected.” But what struck me most wasn’t his outfit; it was what he does in real life. Tim works with immigrants and refugees, teaching them Dutch and helping them integrate into society.

“It’s about creating a sense of home and bringing people together,” he said. His work echoed the very ideals we hear pope Francis talk about all the time—listening to one another, creating connections, caring for the marginalized, and helping those in need.

That connection gave his costume an unexpected depth, turning a creative choice into something meaningful.

Want to hear the full story? Check out this podcast episode, where I talk to Tim about his outfit, his work, and why festivals like these are about so much more than just costumes and cosplay.