Context:

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's election as the first American pope was celebrated by late-night hosts, who humorously reflected on this historic event. Jimmy Kimmel and others highlighted the contrast between American culture and traditional papal gravitas, using comedic metaphors like comparing the pope's style to a monster truck rally. Desi Lydic joked about the pope's familiarity with American pop culture, while Jimmy Fallon introduced him with a playful 'New pope, who dis?' line. The choice of the name Leo XIV by the new pope sparked further comedic commentary, as hosts imagined a more casual and Americanized papal persona. Stephen Colbert envisioned a Chicago-style pope, humorously linking him to iconic American figures and sports teams.

Dive Deeper:

• Late-night hosts celebrated Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's election as the first American pope with a mix of humor and cultural commentary, emphasizing the uniqueness of the event.

• Jimmy Kimmel highlighted the irony of having an American pope and a Russian president, suggesting a historic and unexpected era in global leadership dynamics.

• Desi Lydic humorously remarked on the American pope's potential familiarity with pop culture, contrasting the typical solemnity associated with the papacy with lighter, more relatable American cultural elements.

• Jimmy Fallon and other hosts used comedic phrases like 'New pope, who dis?' to underscore the novelty and modernity of an American taking on such a traditional role.

• The new pope’s choice of the name Leo XIV was a source of comedy, with hosts joking about the absence of a more quintessentially American name like Bob.

• Stephen Colbert created a humorous image of the pope with a Chicago accent, suggesting informal and playful interactions with divine matters and local sports references.

• The late-night humor extended beyond the pope to include pop culture, with Shakira playing a game with Jimmy Fallon and the adaptation of Judy Blume's novel 'Forever' into a Netflix series featuring an all-Black cast.