This man died 403 years ago. A wax copy of the corpse is honored in ‪Santa Maria in Campitelli in Rome.

A Roman Catholic priest is offering incense in front of a wax figure.

Saint Giovanni Leonardi (1541 – October 9, 1609) was founder of the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca.

The final Rule of his community was published in 1851. Two houses of the Clerks of the Mother of God were opened when he died, three others were opened during the seventeenth century.

The faithful Catholics carry this wax figure on their shoulders.

Giovanni Leonardi was declared Venerable in 1701, beatified by Pius IX in 1861, and canonized by Pius XI on 17 April 1938.

His  feast day is celebrated on October 9.

Source: Wikipedia and others.

Priests in Rome stand in a circle and pray in front of the wax figure.

The full “Church” stand and adore the chemical copy of a deceased person.

A wedding couple kneel, and a priest read from scripture facing the doll.

Just like small girls, who dress up their barbie dolls.

When did a wax figure turn out to be so “holy”?

The priests are conducting a mass, facing the wax doll.

Taking the wax figure out of the Church for a stroll for everyone to see.

The children help their father to entertain the people with the wax copy of the corpse of a moral man. Conditioning is passed from the parents to their children.

To parade a wax figure through the streets, is frankly a big laughing matter.  It’s like their circus.