Pope Leo Hops on ‘6-7’ Meme While Greeting Group of Kids Visiting the Vatican

Pope Leo Hops on ‘6-7’ Meme While Greeting Group of Kids Visiting the Vatican https://ift.tt/ZQiaAdI

A clip of him participating in the trend was uploaded to TikTok on Saturday, May 16, with over 26 million views

Pope Leo XIV arrives in the Aula Magna
Credit: Maria Grazia Picciarella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Pope Leo XIV appeared to join the viral “6-7” meme during a visit with young Catholics in Rome
• A clip of the moment was uploaded to TikTok by Don Roberto Fiscer on Saturday, May 16
• The “6-7” trend spread widely across TikTok in 2025 and has been linked to the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla

Pope Leo XIV is proving he's keeping up with internet culture.

On Saturday, May 16, the pontiff participated in the viral “6-7” meme after a crowd of young Catholics taught him the trend during a visit to Rome.

The moment took place when about 1,000 young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Genoa traveled to Rome as part of their preparation for the sacrament of confirmation, reports CNN.

A clip of him participating in the trend was uploaded to TikTok by Don Roberto Fiscer on Saturday, May 16, and has over 26 million views.

“Since the Pope is one of us, and we greet each other like this, he must learn this greeting too, especially because kids all over the world greet each other like this,” Fiscer told CNN in an interview published on Sunday, May 17. "So the kids made us feel close to them, and we made him feel that we consider him one of us.”

Pope Leo XIV
Credit: Marco Iacobucci/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

The meme is believed to stem from the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, which repeatedly features the lyric “6-7.” LaMelo Ball has also become associated with the trend because of his 6'7” height.

The phrase spread widely across TikTok in 2025, particularly among younger users, who incorporated “six seven” into everyday conversations and comedic videos. 

While some creators used the phrase in basketball-related content, others referenced it in jokes about 67% test scores, lip-sync videos and other humorous scenarios.

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Pope Leo XIV arrives for a visit to the Sapienza University of Rome
Credit: Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty

The trend's popularity grew throughout 2025, eventually leading Dictionary.com to select “67” as its word of the year. Several major brands and restaurant chains also embraced the meme in promotional campaigns, including Pizza Hut, Wendy's and TGI Fridays.

Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American pontiff when he was elected. Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, he was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.

Before becoming pope, he served as the leader of the Augustinian order. In 2023, the late Pope Francis appointed him to the Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican office responsible for overseeing the selection of bishops around the world.

Pope Leo XIV also has missionary experience in Peru, where he served as bishop of the city of Chiclayo.