Here’s something to make reptiles feel like underachievers: a 2-year old, 2-foot long Cuban crocodile in Rome has been named an ambassador of the environment, of peace and of solidarity. Granted, the title was bestowed upon the head of Rome’s Bio Park zoo, but still: a crocodile is an ambassador. And he’s only two!

Now he gets to travel alongside the Pope back to his homeland, from whence a tourist kidnapped him last year. Apparently the endangered creature and the Pope are quite close: the crocodile paid a visit to the Vatican in January and the duo hit it off. The crocodile’s planned trip, to go down next week, is meant to show the world that “man should stop devastating nature.”

Had he not been rescued, the little guy could have become a pair of shoes. Now he’s flying high with the head of the Catholic Church. It’s a rags-to-reptile-riches story for the ages. But what’s with Romans giving political titles to non-human critters? Crazy old Caligula wanted to make his horse, Incitatus, a consul. Too bad the favorite pet died before he could take office.

Anyway, here’s a picture of the Pope meeting his Cuban crocodile pal: