The richest man in the world decided he wanted to be blessed by the Pope at the Vatican.

So he traveled to Rome, put on his finest suit, and went to the Vatican to watch the morning papal procession.

The Pope moved through the crowd, and the man was close enough to reach out his hand.

But the Pope walked right past him and stopped in front of a dirty, ragged beggar a few feet away.

The Pope took the beggar’s hand, leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and walked on.

The rich man thought, “Of course! He won’t stop for me dressed like this.”

He followed the beggar into an alley and said, “I’ll give you $1,000 if you trade clothes with me.”

The beggar agreed, and they switched outfits.

That afternoon, during another papal procession, the rich man—now dressed like a beggar—pushed his way to the front of the crowd.

Sure enough, the Pope approached him, took his hand, leaned down, and whispered,

“I told you once already… I never want to see you in here again.”