A surreal crossover between pop culture and religion is going viral after a Pokémon fan managed to get a trading card signed by the Pope himself.
During a July 2025 audience at the Vatican, a Danish fan approached Pope Leo XIV with a unique request. Leaning into the name similarity, the fan presented two Popplio cards, hoping to turn them into one-of-a-kind collectibles.
According to images circulating online, the fan knelt before the Pope inside a ceremonial hall and successfully had one card blessed and another signed. A close-up photo shows the pontiff’s autograph clearly written across the Pokémon card, instantly turning it into a viral artifact.
The unexpected moment quickly spread across social media, with users calling it one of the most wholesome and bizarre crossovers in recent memory. Memes flooded in, blending religious imagery with Pokémon culture, while collectors began debating the potential value of the signed card.
Some enthusiasts argue the card could now be considered priceless due to its uniqueness, combining global religious significance with one of the most recognizable franchises in the world. Others simply see it as a fun and harmless interaction that brought two very different communities together.
Either way, the moment highlights how internet culture thrives on unexpected intersections, where even a formal Vatican setting can collide with modern fandom in a way that captures global attention.