A cheeky little three-year-old girl has been caught on camera stealing the Pope's skullcap as she gives him a kiss.

The video was shot by the girl's Godfather with the caption: 'Took my Goddaughter to meet the pope. She stole his hat.'

Pope Francis scrambles for the hat, but is all smiles as he re-adjusts his uniform and the American girl, Estella Westrick, is carried away.

The man, Mountain Butorac, posted just a couple of hours before that he was waiting in Rome for the pontiff with the youngster.

In a photo posted two hours before the incident, Mr Butorac posted a picture of the girl who stole the hat holding her forehead.

In the video, the gathered crowd erupts with laughter after the girl's sneaky swipe.

Holy, innocent kinda stealing!

She's just playing around Ni o.. Not knowing what she's doing.