Pope Leo XIV has gone viral after unexpectedly joining in on the internet’s bizarre “6-7” trend while interacting with children at the Vatican, a moment that left social media both amused and mildly bewildered. The Vatican may be one of the world’s oldest institutions, but even it is apparently not safe from TikTok brain rot.
Videos from the interaction showed children enthusiastically introducing the Pope to the viral trend as he smiled, laughed and appeared to mimic the gesture associated with it. The wholesome exchange quickly spread online, with users joking that the “6-7” trend has officially reached the Vatican.
The “6-7” trend, which has exploded across TikTok and Instagram reels over the past year, is tied to rapper Skrilla’s track “Doot Doot (6 7).” The meme largely revolves around people randomly shouting “six-seven” or inserting the phrase into awkward and nonsensical situations online.
The trend is widely considered a form of “ragebaiting”, a type of content intentionally designed to confuse, irritate or provoke reactions simply because it appears absurd and meaningless. Ironically, that very randomness is what helped make it massively viral among younger users online.
The children visiting the Vatican appeared delighted after the Pope recognized and participated in the trend instead of looking confused by it.
Watch the video here:
The clip added to Pope Leo’s growing reputation online as a surprisingly modern and internet-friendly religious figure. Recently, the Pope had also gone viral after viewers spotted him wearing Nike sneakers in a documentary, sparking amused reactions across social media.
Though moments like these may seem lighthearted, they have helped make Pope Leo increasingly relatable to younger audiences online.
Pope Leo XIV became the head of the Catholic Church earlier this year and has since drawn attention for his approachable public appearances and informal interactions. His latest viral moment, however, may be the first time a Pope has accidentally entered the chaotic world of TikTok ragebait culture.
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Published By: Srimoyee Chowdhury Published On: May 19, 2026 11:41 IST
