Senior Vatican officials are condemning the sale in Italy of Jesus outfits to wear at street festivities preceding Lent.

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Vendors are hawking Jesus party wigs that come complete with a flowing beard and a plastic crown of thorns within walking distance of St. Peter's Basilica, The Telegraph reports.

The wig set sells for $16 but those willing to spend $32 can add a long white tunic and a plastic staff to complete the Jesus regalia.

"This is regurgitated paganism and is a shameful insult and blasphemous to millions of believers," says Father Vittorino Grossi, secretary of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. "It's worse than Roman graffiti of 1,800 years ago that showed Christ with a donkey's head."

The secretary of the Vatican's Supreme Court, Bishop Velasio De Paolis, says the sale of a similar Mohammed outfit would cause widespread outrage.

"The Christian doctrine is exploited but everyone is very careful to be respectful of Islam," De Paolis says.