'Leo XIV Traces Chicago Ancestry: National News'
In the whirlwind of excitement since Pope Leo XIV's election, the internet has been inundated with a torrent of memes and humorous takes as the world's first American pontiff takes the reins.
From fabricated stained-glass windows featuring Michael Jordan to mocks of canon law banning ketchup-drenched hot dogs, the laughter has been as plentiful as Chicago's pizza and more substantial than its beloved hot dogs.
Leading the satirical charge is The Onion, with a grinning Pontiff encased in a poppyseed-studded bun dotting their front page. "Conclave Selects First Chicago-Style Pope" blared their headline.
Chad Nackers, Editor-in-Chief of The Onion, hailing from a Catholic upbringing himself, explains the fertile ground for humor in the church and the idea of a man who speaks for the divine: "It's just ripe for humor." With a U.S. pope, however, and a city as distinctive as Chicago, the possibilities for laughter explode.
"DA POPE!" echoed the front of the Chicago Sun-Times one Friday, giving voice to the unique Chicago accent that has become iconic in "Saturday Night Live" skits. No matter the pope's actual appearance, in this imaginative realm, he's transformed into a mustachioed everyman who trades Ts for Ds and his zucchetto for a Bears cap.
As Chicago takes center stage, our city's tropes have flooded the comedy scene. The popemobile exchanging places with Dodge Monacos from "The Blues Brothers"? A given. Twists on shows and movies like "Chicago Hope," now dubbed "Chicago Pope"? You betcha. Daydreams of Portillo's Italian beef sandwiches and Maloët liqueur taking the place of sacramental wafers and wine? Just desserts.
In sports-fanatic Chicago, City teams have weathered a wave of Pope-themed humor. Initial speculation of the pope's baseball allegiances leaning towards the storied Cubs brought about insinuations that he hates their rivals, the Cardinals. However, it seems the pontiff roots for the White Sox.
At Wrigleyville's Sports World shop, one customer sought a Cubs jersey adorned with the pope's name. Down the street at Wrigleyville Sports, an employee expressed no ill will towards the pontiff's Sox fandom but admitted, "I just feel bad because he's been accustomed to losing for a while."
Late-night hosts have reveled in the American's ascension, too. Jimmy Fallon joked of "deep-dish communion wafers" while Stephen Colbert, a devout Catholic, offered up "Pope-S-A" chants and thick Chicago tongue references.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel expressed sheer delight in his monologue after the news, remarking that "an American who grew up here, watched all the shows we watched, rooted for teams, is now in Rome at the head of the church...this must've felt like what it felt like when they opened the first Olive Garden."
The laughter is far from over, with a barrage of Ferris Bueller jokes and Pope sightings on the Chicago River or atop the city's Cloud Gate bean on the horizon.
Ashley Lenz, a local theologian for the Catholic prayer app Hallow, observes, "There's a certain delight in the city right now. There's a sense of the sacred breaking into the ordinary. The idea of a pope who stood in line at Portillo's or cheered on the Sox makes it all feel more approachable. It makes the papacy feel human again."
Associated Press writer Melina Walling contributed to this report from Chicago.
Matt Sedensky can be reached at [email protected] and https://x.com/sedensky.
Matt Sedensky, Associated Press. 2023-03-21T15:16:39Z. Chicago-style Pope
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Background:
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, is the first American to lead the Catholic Church as Pontiff. Originally a missionary, he worked in various dioceses before his election as a cardinal in 2020. Previously, he has voted in both Republican and Democratic primaries.
Significance:
Pope Leo XIV's election signals a significant moment for the United States and the Vatican, both politically and culturally. Given the U.S.'s secular influence and the traditionally uncommon occurrence of a U.S. pope, his election has sparked widespread interest and curiosity across the globe.
Memes and humor:
The election of Pope Leo XIV has given rise to a plethora of memes, jokes, and satire on social media platforms, reflecting the extraordinary nature of his election and his American background. Humor often targets the pope's Chicago roots and the traditional taboo against a U.S. pope due to the country's secular influence. These memes and jokes may further highlight the pope's political background, impact on global Catholicism, and unexpected cultural nuances.
The satirical memes and humorous takes continue with The Onion featuring Pope Leo XIV encased in a poppyseed-studded bun, echoing the Chicago-style hot dog. Chad Nackers, Editor-in-Chief of The Onion, acknowledges the fertile ground for humor in the church and the idea of a U.S. pope, describing it as "ripe for humor." In sports-fanatic Chicago, the popemobile has exchanged places with Dodge Monacos from "The Blues Brothers," and jests about the pope's sports-betting preferences are circulating. Late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, have seized the opportunity, infusing their monologues with Pope Leo XIV humor. Amidst the laughter, Ashley Lenz, a local theologian, observes a sense of the sacred breaking into the ordinary, making the papacy feel more approachable and human.
