Fact Check: Did Pope Leo once urge people to 'be woke'?
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis' successor, Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken on the papal name Pope Leo XIV, made history by becoming the first American-born pope.
Since he became the new pope, many rumors about him have circulated online. A recent rumor claimed that Pope Leo XIV once urged people to "be woke." But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Pope Leo XIV urged people to 'be woke'
In early May, a meme circulated online that attributed a quote about what it meant to be "woke" to the new pontiff.
The viral picture showed the pope standing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica with one hand raised in blessing alongside a block of text.
A Facebook post featuring the meme has already garnered more than 2,000 reactions and 1,200 shares till now.
Oh, yes, yes, yes; let's GO:
— Non-Ironically T.V.'s B. Dave Walters - EVERYWHERE (@BDaveWalters) May 10, 2025
To be called “woke” in a world that sleeps through suffering is no insult- it is Gospel.”
Pope Leo🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/bP7m2P2Y3L
The alleged quote read, "O all who sent prayers, love, and hope as I begin this sacred journey — thank you. I accept this role not as a throne, but as a vow: To serve the forgotten, To uplift the broken, To speak plainly where others stay silent."
"To be called 'woke' in a world that sleeps through suffering is no insult — it is Gospel. Woke means awakened by compassion. Guided by truth. Humbled by grace. Committed to justice — not just for some, but for all. So let them mock. Let them sneer. We will still build the Kingdom — not with walls, but with love. Be awake. Be loving. Be woke," the quote added.
The rumor also appeared on X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Tumblr.
Fact Check: No evidence that Pope Leo XIV made this statement
The claims made in the viral rumors are false, as there is no evidence that Pope Leo XIV ever made this statement or gave any speech resembling it, per Snopes.
Moreover, searches on search engines, such as Google and Bing, showed no results that Pope Leo made any such statement or that any credible news outlet carried any such news.
Furthermore, the quote also did not appear on the Vatican's official press websites or in any public remarks attributed to the pope, per the fact-checking outlet.
The person who posted the meme featuring the quote later admitted that it was "made up," Snopes reported.
View on Threads
Threads user @atheistadamx commented on his post, "The fact that so many of you wanted this to be true shows how far Catholicism is from real progress.Yes, I made up these words, with the help of my AI friend."
Pope Leo seems to take a swipe at Donald Trump during first speech as pontiff
Hours after being named the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV gave his first public speech on May 8, and many thought it was a subtle jab at President Donald Trump.
During his speech, Pope Leo echoed his late predecessor Pope Francis, who was famously critical of Trump, especially on immigration.
Pope Leo said, "We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, [and is] always open to receive — like this square, with open arms — everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love."
The message was something Pope Francis would've cheered, as he often clapped back at Trump’s "Build the Wall" slogan with his signature phrase, "Build bridges, not walls", per The Daily Beast.
During his speech, Pope Leo also paid tribute to Pope Francis. He said, "Help us too, then, each other, to build bridges... uniting all of us to be one people, always in peace," and added, "Thank you to Pope Francis."
