📸 Topps Now Drops Pope Leo XIV Rookie Card

Courtesy: Topps

It’s official: His Holiness has a rookie card.

In a move that’s equal parts holy and hilarious, Topps just dropped a Topps NOW card of newly elected Pope Leo XIV — the first American-born pontiff — capturing his first public blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The print-to-order card is available until May 11, and yes, there’s even a “White Smoke” variant numbered to 267 (because he's the 267th pope).

One will cost you $8.99 with a random chance at a short print.

🙏 From Vatican to Vault?

The Topps NOW line was built to immortalize sports milestones — buzzer-beaters, no-hitters, walk-offs. Lately though, the line’s been stretching into meme-worthy territory: everything from Taylor Swift attending a Chiefs game to a ballboy making a diving catch. And now? A Vatican cameo.

Is this peak pop-culture printing? Or a sign the card hobby’s instant-era obsession has no ceiling?

⚡️Flash Print FOMO

There’s no denying these moment-driven cards have changed the hobby. They reward fast reflexes, real-time hype, and cultural moments that blur the line between sport and spectacle. But when a papal conclave gets the same cardboard treatment as a walk-off homer, it begs the question — are we printing moments just because we can?

Sure, it’s a collector's dream to snag rare, one-day-only cards. But it's also easy to feel like the Topps NOW timeline is starting to look more like a Twitter feed than a curated record of history.

💡 The Hobby’s Takeaway

If nothing else, this drop shows Topps is willing to bet there’s a buyer for everything. And in today’s hobby, they might be right.

Collectors love crossover moments. The Pope. On cardboard. With a print run you’ll have to pray for. It’s weird, bold, and totally 2025.

So whether you’re a devout collector or just here for the novelty — the Pope's got a card now. The only question is: who’s next?