The new pope’s Midwestern roots are getting the meme treatment.
Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago. Like many people from Chicago, the new pontiff’s connections run to Wisconsin. The Milwaukee-based National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum wasted no time preparing two different versions of a Pope Leo bobblehead.
“(W)ith the excitement surrounding the first Pope from North America, we know the Pope Leo XIV bobbleheads are going to be very popular,” museum CEO Phil Sklar said in a news release.
Others are also trying to cash in on the new pope’s Chicago origins.
According to a blog post from lawyer Josh Gerben, there were several trademark filings for the phrase “Da Pope” in the hours after Leo was elected. The saying trades on the popular “Saturday Night Live” sketch “Bill Swerski’s Superfans,” and its catchphrase “Da Bears.”
Unfortunately for trademark seekers, Gerben says the filings are unlikely to be approved.
And while there is only one football team in Chicago, there are two baseball teams to choose from. Leo’s baseball allegiances caused a minor stir on Thursday when it was initially reported he was a Cubs fan. Relatives soon corrected the record to say the pope, who grew up in a southern suburb, backs the south-side White Sox.
Besides sports, Chicago is known for its food. From deep-dish pizza to hot dogs. memes proliferated depicting the pope connected to various Chicago cuisines.
Well-known restaurant Portillo’s got into the social media game, asking on X, “How quickly can we ship Italian Beef to Vatican City?”
The restaurant also announced a new sandwich called The Leo:
The selection of a pope from the United States is clearly marking a new era in the Catholic church — and Midwestern humor.
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