Wait. Is the Pope actually playing League of Legends?
If you’ve spent five minutes on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the screenshots. A white-robed figure sitting in a high-backed gaming chair, glowing RGB lights reflecting off his pectoral cross, allegedly locking in a mid-lane assassin. The internet has a strange obsession with pope league of legends memes, and honestly, the reality is even weirder than the AI-generated images.
We aren't just talking about one specific joke. It’s a whole ecosystem of "Gamer Pope" lore that exploded when Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago—was elected in May 2025. Being the first American pope, and a Midwesterner at that, the internet immediately decided he was one of us.
Why the Internet is Obsessed with Pope League of Legends
The "League of Legends Pope" phenomenon isn't a single event. It’s a collision of three very different things: a Chicago-born pontiff, the rise of hyper-realistic AI deepfakes, and the gaming community's relentless need to meme everything into existence.
When Pope Leo XIV took office, people didn't just talk about his theology. They talked about his Wordle scores. Seriously. There were genuine reports about him being a fan of word games, and that was the spark. If he plays Wordle, why not League?
Soon, the floodgates opened.
The "Pope Leo XIV Gaming" Deepfakes
By June 2025, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication was playing whack-a-mole with AI videos. One viral clip showed the Pope supposedly announcing his "main" (the character he plays most) in a weekly Angelus address. It looked terrifyingly real.
🔗 Read more: Gothic Romance Outfit Dress to Impress: Why Everyone is Obsessed With This Vibe Right Now
The Vatican had to issue a formal warning. They literally had to tell people that the Holy Father was not, in fact, streaming his promotional matches on Twitch.
"We are witnessing the exponential proliferation of fake videos... all use artificial intelligence to make the pope say things he never said," the Vatican stated in late 2025.
The "Mid-Lane Cardinal" Meme Origin
Before the current Pope, the pope league of legends connection was mostly a joke about "Holy" champions. Players would meme about a "Vatican Team Comp" consisting of:
- Leona (The Sun/Light)
- Soraka (The Healer)
- Kayle (The Angel)
- Smolder (Wait, no, maybe just a dragon from a fresco?)
But the 2025 election changed the vibe. Now, it’s about the absurdity of a 70-year-old American man trying to navigate the most toxic gaming community on earth. Imagine the Pope trying to stay zen while a 14-year-old Yasuo main pings him incessantly. It's comedy gold.
Separating the Fact from the "Rift" Fiction
Let's get one thing straight: Pope Leo XIV does not play League of Legends.
He’s a busy man. He’s dealing with global diplomacy and church reform. However, the reasons why people believe these memes are actually quite fascinating. It’s a symptom of how we humanize (or satirize) figures of immense power.
💡 You might also like: The Problem With Roblox Bypassed Audios 2025: Why They Still Won't Go Away
Real Connections to Gaming
The Church has actually been flirting with gaming for years. Back in 2019, Father Robert Ballecer (the "Digital Jesuit") famously set up a Vatican Minecraft server to give gamers a non-toxic environment. It got DDoS attacked immediately, which is the most "internet" thing to ever happen.
Then you have the "Gaming Clergy" on YouTube and TikTok. These are real priests who stream games like Valorant and League to connect with younger generations. When people see a guy in a Roman collar getting a Pentakill, it makes the pope league of legends memes feel just a little more plausible.
The "Conclave" Influence
The 2024 film Conclave also fueled the fire. It made the papal election look like a high-stakes political thriller. Gamers, naturally, compared the selection of a new Pope to a "Patch Update" or a "Tier List" of Cardinals.
When the "Chicago Pope" emerged, the "CM Pope" memes started. "CM" usually stands for "Chicago Made" (a nod to wrestler CM Punk), but in the gaming world, people joked it stood for "Carry Main."
Why This Meme Actually Matters for SEO and Culture
You might think searching for pope league of legends is just for the lulz, but it highlights a massive problem in 2026: the death of the "eye test."
We used to say "seeing is believing." Now, seeing a video of the Pope flaming his teammates in All-Chat is just another Tuesday. The Vatican is genuinely worried about deepfakes because if you can make him play League, you can make him say something that starts a war.
📖 Related: All Might Crystals Echoes of Wisdom: Why This Quest Item Is Driving Zelda Fans Wild
It's a weird world.
How to spot a fake Pope Gaming post:
- Check the Hands: AI still struggles with fingers. If the Pope has six fingers on the mouse, it's a fake.
- Listen to the Voice: Pope Leo XIV has a distinct Chicago-meets-Rome lilt. Most AI clones sound too flat or "New York."
- Source Check: If it’s not on Vatican News or a major outlet like The Catholic Weekly, he didn't do it.
The Future of the "Gamer Pontiff"
As League of Legends enters its 2026 season, the jokes aren't slowing down. Riot Games even leaned into the "holy" aesthetic with some of their recent skin lines, though they've wisely avoided any direct "Pope" skins to keep things respectful.
Honestly, the pope league of legends trend is probably here to stay as long as we have a Pope who feels "relatable." In a way, it’s the ultimate form of modern folklore.
If you're looking for actual "holy" gameplay, your best bet is sticking to the "Light" themed champions in the game. Don't go looking for the Pope's secret account. It doesn't exist. Probably.
Actionable Takeaways for Gaming Fans
- Don't share the deepfakes: They're funny, but the Vatican is actually struggling with the misinformation.
- Explore the "Digital Jesuit" legacy: If you're interested in faith and gaming, look up Father Robert Ballecer's work. It's the real version of this meme.
- Report the scams: Many "Pope Gaming" accounts on X (formerly Twitter) are actually fronting for crypto scams.
If you see a player named "Pontifex_Mid" in your next ranked game, just give them a "gl hf." It’s probably just a theology student avoiding their finals.