El Papa is in the United States for the first time ever. We expected to hear the typical stories of people traveling across the country to see him and places selling commemorative items, but thankfully, people have taken their Popemania to much more amusing lengths. Though there were lots of lulz at the Remezcla office, we know Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. won’t be all good times.
So here’s a look at the important and non-important stuff that has happened during the pope’s visit so far:
1
Repurposed Soccer Chants
Now, no one can say we aren’t a fútbol-loving country. When El Papa landed at the Andrews Air Force Base, the crowds chanted a variation of the “I believe that we can win” US team chant: “I believe. I believe that. I believe that we. I believe that we love the pope. I believe that we love Pope Francis!” We would have suggested the more succinct “I believe we love the pope,” but this will do.
2
Anti-Capitalist Pope
How Right-Wing Media Are Welcoming Pope Francis To AmericaThis is how right-wing media welcomed Pope Francis to America:
Posted by Media Matters for America on Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Some conservative media outlets welcomed the pope to the U.S. by saying some of the most WTF stuff, like “the same people who gave us Obama, gave us this pope.” What a few of them seem to agree on is that Pope Francis is anti-capitalist, so now we’re just waiting for this Oreo situation, as imagined by The Onion, to play out.
3
Pop-Up Pope
In Philadelphia, Christa Scalies has taken a life-size Pope Francis cardboard cutout to bars and to meet the homeless, according to Reuters. At Love Park, a Jesus-looking guy joined in.
4
Mail Delays
Our own music dude, Joel Moya, got this message today while tracking his package.
5
Popesicles
Philly has REALLY gotten into the pope’s visit.
6
Papa Pizza
New York City pizzerias have dedicated pizzas to the pope, according to the New York Post. Bleecker Street Pizza (pictured☝️) went with the pope’s face, while Rosario Procino, Paulie Gee and Kesté Pizza and Vino took other factors into consideration when creating their own papa pizzas.
7
Junípero Serra Canonization
Junípero Serra, the Spanish missionary who founded nine of the 21 missions in California that later were the basis of what is now the modern state is set to be canonized today by the pope, according to NBC News. Serra has been a controversial choice as his mission system relied on the military and played an active role in the genocide of thousands of indigenous Americans.
8
Immigrant Rights
This is incredible. Sophie Cruz is five years old. Today, she managed to walked into the street while Pope Francis’s…
Posted by Southern Poverty Law Center on Wednesday, September 23, 2015
While grown men were trying to detain a little girl who was on the pope side of the barricades, El Papa motioned to her to come over. Sofía Cruz, 5, was carried over to the pope, and she handed him a letter that asked him to help immigrants, according to Fox News Latino. The little girl came from LA, and she also handed the pope a shirt that reads, “Papa Rescate DAPA.” She’s literally our new hero.
9
Women's Rights
The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests staged a lie-in at a Washington D.C. church. They wore signs that asked Pope Francis to ordain women. When El Papa arrived to the church, they were still on the floor. “He saw our signs,” said Janice Sevre-Duszynska, according to NBC News. “He looked right at us.”
10
A Big-Ass Pope
There’s a mural of Pope Francis on a high-rise building in Midtown.