One Pokémon fan traveled across the land and searched far and wide to find Pope Leo XIV with a Popplio card in hand for a truly delightful interaction.
The meeting took place at the Vatican, where recently elected Pope Leo XIV greeted visitors for blessings. The Pokémon aficionado (known as ReptileCake on Reddit) took a card of Popplio, the water starter from the 7th generation of the card game, to get signed as well as another card to be blessed by the pontiff as a memento.
The interaction took place during a school trip, and ReptileCake, who’s from Denmark, spoke to IGN about the experience.
“I introduced it as Popplio because it sounds like Pope Leo,” ReptileCake shared. “He laughed, probably as a courtesy, but he did know about Pokémon cards, he even showed it around to the guards around him. Then I asked him to sign a copy for me and he was happy to oblige.”
The Pope, who hails from Chicago, no doubt is quite aware of Pokémon’s global presence.
ReptileCake continued, “We were herded through security and then seated, then the pope arrived nonchalantly, gave a great speech about hope, and then invited everyone up for a meet and greet [for] people to get some items blessed or give gifts.”
“I went up, gave him a Reverse Holo Popplio and then asked him to sign a copy for me, in which he complied with a laugh. He felt really nice to be around.” Whether or not Pope Leo XIV knew he already shared a similar-sounding name with the sea lion-inspired cute monster is unclear.
“It’s just a funny joke that His Holiness indulged in with me,” ReptileCake affirmed about the meeting, “that’s worth more than any monetary value can satisfy. [I’m] never intending to get rid of the card in any way. It’s a personal artifact that I will cherish for eternity.” And perhaps the holiest Pokémon card of them all.