Vatican asks Instagram to get to the bottom of Pope account's underwear model 'like'

Brazilian Natalia Garibotto cheekily responded to incident saying 'at least I'm going to heaven'

The Vatican is seeking an explanation from Instagram, after the official account of Pope Francis liked a photograph of a lingerie-clad Brazilian model.

A photograph of model Natalia Garibotto, who was dressed in schoolgirl-style undergarments, was liked by Francis' verified account, franciscus.

It is unclear when the photograph -- which shows Garibotto's skimpily clad body -- was first liked, but the interaction was visible on November 13, before being unliked the next day.

Now, the Vatican said it is trying to get to the bottom of the incident.

"We are in touch with Instagram to find out what happened," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, said the issue is currently being investigated in close contact with The Holy See.

Some 7.4 million people follow the pontiff on his official Instagram account, but the account does not follow anyone back. There is no evidence that the Pope liked the image himself.

COY Co, Garibotto's management company, posted about the incident on its own Instagram account, writing: "COY Co. has received the POPE'S OFFICIAL BLESSING."

Garibotto also responded to the incident, writing on Twitter on November 13: "At least I'm going to heaven."