As bizarre as it may sound, one dedicated Pokemon TCG fan actually managed to get Pope Leo to sign a card. Autographed cards aren't uncommon in the community, with many fans seeking signatures from celebrities to add value or flair to their collections. However, this particular card has captured the Pokemon TCG community's attention for a few undeniably meme-worthy reasons.
Back in 2023, the Pokemon TCG released the Crown Zenith expansion, which introduced Trainer-signed cards. Those cards featured Supporters with stylized signatures meant to represent the characters and were mostly available as promotional, special, or secret rares. However, the virtual autographs didn't resonate with most fans. Many felt The Pokemon Company missed an opportunity by not using the actual signatures of the artists or well-known voice actors. However, not all fans have been waiting for the Japanese company to release officially signed or relic cards. Some have taken matters into their own hands, getting their cards signed by their favorite celebrities instead.
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A Pokemon TCG fan known as ReptileCake on Reddit has successfully gotten Pope Leo's signature on a Popplio card. The incident alone is intriguing and has quickly grabbed the attention of many players, as what truly made the card go viral is the Pokemon's name, Popplio, which sparked a wave of "Pope and Popplio" jokes. Some fans are even calling Popplio the holy Pokemon, joking that the otherwise overlooked card might finally rise to fame now that it's been blessed by the Pope himself. It's worth noting that while Popplio is considered one of the best Gen 7 starter Pokemon, it hasn't made much of an impact in the Pokemon TCG meta, adding to the humor surrounding its autographed card.
Did the Pope Actually Sign a Pokemon Card?
When the news broke about the Pope signing a Pokemon card, many questioned its authenticity. However, ReptileCake, the person claiming ownership of the signed card, later shared press images from the day they got the autograph. In one of the photos, their hand can be seen holding the card out to Pope Leo, who is smiling and holding a marker, which adds credibility to the story.
When Pope Leo was chosen, he earned a reputation as a casual gamer thanks to his interest in games like Wordle. This has led some to speculate that he may have knowingly signed the Pokemon card out of genuine interest in video games, though others see that as an idealistic assumption.
Some fans have asked ReptileCake to get their autographed card graded, hoping it might attract some collectors' attention. Technically, it could earn a double grade; one for the signature and another for the card itself. However, the owner has shown no interest in grading it, citing concerns about potential damage during the process. For now, the Pope-signed Popplio seems destined to join the ranks of unorthodox Pokemon TCG cards that quietly sit in a collector's binder until, maybe someday, they resurface as a valuable relic.
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Original Release Date
- October 20, 1996