Holy Grail of Modern Collectibles? Topps NOW Celebrates Election of Pope Leo XIV with Historic Trading Card

Posted: May 8, 2025, 7:27 pm
in Sports Card News
by bionic

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When Vatican tradition meets trading card culture, you know something extraordinary is happening.

In a truly one-of-a-kind crossover between faith and fandom, Topps NOW® has released a limited-edition trading card to commemorate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope in history. The card features the new pontiff—formerly Robert Francis Prevost—greeting the crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as more than 150,000 faithful filled the square below in a moment that merged centuries of ritual with a distinctly modern twist.

Available until May 11, 2025, the card can be purchased directly from Topps’ website, marking what may become one of the most talked-about non-sports releases of the year.

From Conclave to Cardboard

Following the passing of Pope Francis, the Church followed time-honored tradition, entering a nine-day mourning period before convening the conclave. The solemn rituals gave way to jubilation when white smoke rose over the Sistine Chapel just sixteen days later, signaling the election of the Church’s 267th pope.

Topps wasted no time capturing the significance of the moment. Much like they’ve immortalized World Series wins, no-hitters, and even Olympic triumphs, they’ve now added papal election to the list.

Look Out for the “White Smoke” Short Print

Collectors chasing rare variations will want to keep an eye out for the ultra-limited “White Smoke” Short Print, numbered to just 267 copies—a symbolic nod to Pope Leo XIV’s place in the succession line.

And yes, the card is officially titled Card POPE. If you ever doubted that the Venn diagram between Vatican watchers and cardboard collectors had any overlap, this release just proved otherwise.

A Challenger to the Throne of Non-Sport Greats?

With a global Catholic population estimated at 1.4 billion, the potential audience for this card is unlike anything we’ve seen outside of major global sports events. Could this collectible rival Topps NOW's biggest hits—like the Olympic basketball trio of Curry, LeBron, and Durant, or Shohei Ohtani’s legendary 50/50 card?

It just might. Especially if the print run stays tight and demand from both collectors and the Catholic community holds strong.

Whether you're in it for the history, the holy significance, or the chase for a rare variation, Topps NOW: Pope Leo XIV may be the most unexpected but unforgettable drop of the year.