Photo credit: Vatican Media
Armed with two Popplio Pokémon trading cards—one holographic, one standard—Reddit user ReptileCake, a self-professed TCG enthusiast, wasn’t just there to soak in the spiritual aura of the Jubilee Year celebrations. He had a mission: to get Pope Leo XIV, the newly minted American pontiff, to sign a card featuring a water-type sea lion whose name sounds suspiciously like “Pope Leo.”
ReptileCake, a mysterious figure whose real name stays under wraps, didn’t make the trip solo. He joined a crew of students and teachers from all over Europe, each toting gifts or keepsakes to be blessed by the Holy Father. Rosaries, crucifixes, and prayer books were the usual picks, but ReptileCake brought something totally wild: a Reverse Holo Popplio card from the 2016 Pokémon Sun and Moon set, featuring a quirky water-type critter that smashes enemies with balloon-like snot bubbles.
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 8-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Pikachu looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series
The moment went down during a laid-back meet-and-greet after Pope Leo XIV’s speech on hope, delivered with the chill vibe of a guy who’s already famous as the first gamer pope (yep, he’s big into Wordle). After weaving through Vatican security, ReptileCake and his group found themselves in a setting that felt more like a friendly fan meetup than a holy audience. Pope Leo XIV, aka Robert Francis Prevost, just two months into his papacy, greeted everyone with a warm grin. When ReptileCake’s turn came, he handed over the shiny Popplio card, pointing out the playful name connection. “It’s a Popplio—kinda sounds like Pope Leo!” he said, as shared in his Reddit post.
Then came the gutsy move. ReptileCake, realizing he only had a beat-up Bic pen that barely worked, asked the pope to sign a second Popplio card. The pen wasn’t great for the card’s glossy surface, leaving a slightly messy signature, he later told IGN. But Pope Leo XIV, cool as ever, laughed it off and signed anyway, scribbling his name across the card. The result? A one-of-a-kind treasure: a Popplio card autographed by the 267th pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church. Vatican Media photos catch the moment, with a glowing pope holding the card, the whole exchange oozing a warmth that makes the wildness of it all feel oddly wholesome.
Now nicknamed the “holy Pokémon” by fans, the card’s got people buzzing about its worth—some say it could rake in millions at auction, especially if Pope Leo XIV ever becomes a saint, turning it into a third-class relic, a Catholic keepsake touched by a holy figure. But ReptileCake’s not cashing in. “It’s just a hilarious moment his Holiness rolled with,” he told Polygon. “That’s worth way more than any price tag.” He’s keeping the card safe in a UV-protected sleeve, a personal gem he plans to hold onto forever.
[Source]
