Late-night comedy shows once again provided a humorous take on the biggest news of the week, including the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pope. As the new pope made headlines, the comedy world was quick to lampoon the situation, with several late-night hosts delivering a series of punchlines about the historic event. From poking fun at the American pope’s potential lack of “gravitas” to imagining what his papal duties might look like, the comedians didn’t hold back.
Late-Night Comedians Mock American Pope, Blending Humor with Cultural Contrasts and Jokes
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s election as pope became a focal point for many late-night comedians. Jimmy Kimmel cracked a joke about the odd pairing of an American pope and a Russian president, highlighting the cultural contrast. Desi Lydic humorously pointed out the difference between the solemnity typically associated with the papacy and the American approach, which might lean more toward something like a “monster truck rally.”
The jokes continued with the new pope being portrayed as someone who might even know the lyrics to the popular Chili’s “Baby Back Ribs” song, further emphasizing the clash between the holiness of the papacy and the more casual American pop culture.
Late-Night Hosts Roast First American Pope with Jokes About Ford Trucks, Chili’s, and “New Pope, Who Dis”The comedians didn’t just stop at jokes about the pope’s American identity; they also entertained the idea of what the pope’s image might look like. Jimmy Kimmel joked that the Pope Mobile might now resemble a Ford F-250 truck with “truck nuts,” taking the reverence out of the papacy and replacing it with American flair. Jimmy Fallon’s punchline added to this by imagining the pope stepping out onto the Vatican balcony with a casual “New pope, who dis?” in a distinctly American tone, poking fun at the modern, informal nature of American culture.
Kimmel Mocks Pope Name Choice and Shakira Brings Lighthearted Fun to Late-Night
Jimmy Kimmel took the opportunity to explore the pope’s choice of name, Leo XIV, which led to a string of jokes about how there have been 13 popes named Leo, but never a Pope Bob. Kimmel’s humor continued by suggesting that Leo isn’t a very pope-like name, instead imagining it as the name of an altar boy who got high and ate all the communion wafers. These jokes emphasized the comedic contrast between the saintly office of the pope and the more relatable, sometimes irreverent tone that an American pope might bring to the table.
In addition to political and religious humor, late-night shows also offered lighter moments, such as the appearance of Colombian superstar Shakira on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show.” Shakira joined Fallon for a fun game of “Box of Lies,” providing a welcome break from the more serious topics in the news. This moment highlighted how late-night shows skillfully combine humor and celebrity appearances, delivering a balanced mix of entertainment to their audiences.