• by Tanya Gazdik , May 9, 2025

While the world reacted to news of a new Pope, one American brand took a simple but effective approach. 

“Almost immediately after the news broke Thursday about the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, being elected as the first pope from the U.S., the fried-chicken chain [Popeyes] posted two simple words that were a play on its name to X, 'Pope yes.’” according to Campaign. 

As of Friday afternoon, the post had 2,100 comments, 445,000 likes and was reposted 42,000 times on X.

“Many brand managers were tickled by the joke, flooding the replies with comments of their own,” accordion to Parade. “The social media manager of pope yes deserves a raise," crypto wallet Phantom replied, while financial operations platform Ramp insisted the chicken joint's corporate offices should "Give your social media team a raise (and automate their expense reports)."

Netflix and Jimmy John’s also had quick reactions on social media, noted Campaign. 

Netflix posted a photo from its hit show “Emily in Paris” with the caption “I’m from Chicago but I moved here for a job.” Jimmy John’s posted “the Pope and JJ’s both from Illinois? holy sandwich.”

Many Chicago-based brands also had a reaction to the historic moment, staking their claim to the Pope’s roots. 

“Outside Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs marked the moment by announcing on its legendary sign: ‘Hey Chicago, He's a Cubs Fan!’” according to ABC News. “Similarly, Bennison's, a bakery in Evanston, just north of the city, announced a new sugar cookie with Prevost's likeness that it promised was 'as divine as the moment.'”

Back to baseball: Pope Leo's brother John took great pains to dispel early rumors that the pontiff was a fan of the Chicago Cubs. “John told WGN that the pope is a lifelong Chicago White Sox backer, having spent much of his early life on the South Side,” according to Sports Illustrated. “As the world gradually introduced itself to the new Supreme Pontiff, Kaitlin Washburn and The Chicago Sun-Times went even further—obtaining a photograph of the future Pope Leo XIV at the 2005 World Series.”

Having an American in the position definitely created intrigue. 

“Many cracked jokes about what it will be like to have an American at the helm of the Augustinian religious order, referencing mundane staples of American culture the new pontiff likely grew up with,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

X user @HeroDividend shared an image of Vatican City with images of a Costco, Waffle House and Buc-ees photoshopped over the buildings with the caption: “Vatican City after electing an American Pope.”