Sep 15, 2018; South Bend, IN, USA; A general view of the Golden Dome on the campus of the University of Notre Dame before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Vanderbilt Commodores at Notre Dame Stadium. Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Notre Dame Trends Online Following Pope Leo XIV’s Unveiling

Originally posted on Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI
By Nick Shepkowski | Last updated May 8, 2025 3:56 PM ET

The biggest world news over the last few days has been the Conclave going on in the Vatican as the election of a new pope got underway. On Thursday, that came to an end with the revealing of Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost), the first American Pope in history.

Personally, to see a man who grew up in Chicago's south suburbs, a handful of Metra stops north of where I did (at a different time, yes), become Pope is certainly inspiring.

As social media tends to present, celebration and excitement were shared as were plenty of jokes. Below are some of the very best as despite Pope Leo XIV attending Villanova, the University of Notre Dame still managed to show up all over X feeds.

University of Notre Dame Celebrates a New Pope

Habemus papam! pic.twitter.com/fEQSO9Jshn
— University of Notre Dame (@NotreDame) May 8, 2025

Pope Leo: A Notre Dame Fan?

Catholic from Chicago...gotta be a Notre Dame fan, right?
— Jamie Uyeyama (@jamieuyeyama) May 8, 2025

New Notre Dame Shamrock Series Uniforms?

A Notre Dame Football Swiss guard alternate uni would go very hard. pic.twitter.com/1F47BxVAng
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) May 8, 2025

Haters Gonna Hate

Also, I really love the fact that Notre Dame didn't produce the first American Pope.
— Ryan Phillips (@RumorsandRants) May 8, 2025

Good News for Notre Dame Football?

The new pope being from Chicago oh notre dame’s winning the national championship next year in everything
— Dan (@dannah__montana) May 8, 2025

A New Opening Hymn on Sundays?

Can’t wait for “and now please rise for our opening hymn, the Notre Dame Victory March” this Sunday. https://t.co/8PVnRGrQer
— Dougie Sant (@dougiesant) May 8, 2025

Notre Dame Hockey - Chicago Connection

☘️#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/ihcfCmcinQ
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) May 8, 2025

The University of Notre Dame also announced it is offering a special mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV on Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Basilica. For those unable to attend, the mass will be live-streamed and can be viewed here.

This article first appeared on Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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