The conclave has selected Cardinal Robert Prevost as the next Pope of the Catholic Church, making history as the first American in this prestigious role. The 69-year-old from Chicago has taken the papal name Leo XIV, and the news of the new Pope was announced when white smoke billowed from a chimney on the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025. Pope Leo later appeared on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, addressing a cheering crowd gathered below.
It took the conclave, composed of 133 cardinals, four rounds of voting across two days to decide on the new Pontiff, who succeeds the late Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. World leaders quickly took to social media to congratulate Pope Leo. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed his congratulations on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and around the world. I look forward to meeting the Holy Father soon.” Taoiseach Micheal Martin of Ireland shared a warm message as well: “On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I offer warm congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as Pope Leo XIV.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Saint Peter, emphasizing Ukraine’s appreciation for the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law and condemning military aggression.
The decision-making process of the conclave has generated significant interest, especially with the recent release of the film Conclave, which has kept many people engaged in the proceedings online. As a result, reactions to the news of the first American Pope have been lively, with many humorous memes circulating on social media. One dedicated account, Pope Crave, humorously remarked, “Sorry to those of you who find out this way but,” while Netflix shared a scene from Emily in Paris: “I’m from Chicago but I moved here for a job.”
Others chimed in on the fun, with one user joking, “They choose this pope bc Chicago is a walkable city,” while another quipped, “They’re gonna put a McDonald's in the Vatican.” A third user humorously noted, “The new Pope has a degree in mathematics from Villanova University. This guy doesn’t just understand sin. He understands cos.”
In a more playful vein, a user asked, “THE NEW POPE IS FROM CHICAGO????” while another shared a Chicago-style deep dish pizza meme captioned, “New Pope serving the body of Christ at mass.” The internet buzzed with comments like, “Early exit polls suggest the new pope did particularly well with male voters aged 45-79,” and a cat account humorously pointed out, “Donald Trump is no longer the most powerful American in the world.”
Adding to the intrigue, the announcement of Pope Leo XIV coincided with the birthday of popular YouTuber and internet personality Trisha Paytas. Paytas, who turned 37 on May 8, 2025, has a two-year-old daughter, Malibu Barbie Paytas-Hacmon, who shares her birthday with the new Pope, September 14. This peculiar coincidence has ignited a flurry of online discussions and memes, with fans humorously speculating about the connections between Paytas and world leaders.
Social media users noted that Malibu was born just six days after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022. One user on X commented, “First Queen Elizabeth, then King Charles, now the Pope??? Trisha Paytas’ womb is the spiritual reset button for world leaders.” This comment alluded to a previous internet meme suggesting that Malibu Barbie is a reincarnation of Queen Elizabeth II.
As the conversation continued, another fan remarked, “At this point, it’s not a coincidence anymore. Trisha Paytas is running the simulation.” Others joined in, saying, “Trisha’s kids being the world leaders reincarnated is the best conspiracy theory,” and “Trisha Paytas is the prophecy!!!!”
Adam McIntyre, a content creator, was among the first to highlight the coincidence of the Pope’s election falling on Paytas’ birthday. His observation quickly went viral, spreading across various social media platforms. Pop Crave reposted a tweet that showcased a Google search highlighting Paytas’ birthday alongside the announcement of the new Pope, captioning it, “New pope on Trisha Paytas’ birthday... It’s actually getting ridiculous.”
Paytas herself acknowledged the coincidence by sharing Pop Crave’s post on her Instagram Stories and commented with two groaning emojis. In previous discussions about the timing of Pope Francis’ death, she jokingly suggested naming her unborn child “Pope,” “Francis,” or “Francis Pope,” as a nod to the ongoing theories surrounding her family.
Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88, had been the head of the Catholic Church since 2013. His death on April 21, 2025, prompted speculation about the future of the Papacy and the potential for a new direction under Pope Leo XIV.
Trisha Paytas, who announced her third pregnancy in March 2025, is due in July. She has previously addressed the online theories about her children being reincarnated world leaders, stating on her podcast that while she finds the memes amusing, they also terrify her. “I think I sang ‘I Love You Jesus’ a little too hard...” she quipped, referencing her 2017 hit song.
The unique intersection of Paytas’ life and the new Pope’s election has captivated the internet, with many eagerly watching how this story unfolds. As the world adjusts to Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, conversations surrounding Trisha Paytas and her family’s perceived connection to global events continue to thrive.
