Pope Francis This article is more than 8 years oldMC Francis: pope's hip-hop pose inspires #popebars internet meme
This article is more than 8 years oldImage of pope holding the head of a microphone sparks #popebars hashtag as social media churns out potential pontifical rhymes
Jay Z, Snoop Dogg, Vanilla Ice: the rap hall of fame is already bursting at the seams. Those storied names may have to make way, however, for a new talent in town: Pope Francis.
The head of the Catholic church has been reinvented as a hip-hop star after a picture of him adopting a rapper-esque pose went viral.
The fun began when Francis visited Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, on Monday. Speaking at a mosque, the pope said Christians and Muslims were “brothers and sisters”, and called for them to act as such.
His appearance sparked an internet meme, although it was largely unrelated to his message of interfaith unity. Instead, an image of the pontiff clasping the head of a microphone, in the manner favored by rappers, beatboxers and people who don’t know how to properly hold a microphone, quickly went viral.
Using the tag #popebars, internet wits began to imagine pithy rhymes Francis might perform.
Some channelled Eminem:
Psalms are sweaty, knees weak cross is heavy, there's vomit on his robe already, Vatican spaghetti #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/iIgdB1Avog
— Louie Malpeli (@louieisallnow) December 1, 2015Coolio’s 1995 hit Gangsta’s Paradise was also invoked.
as i walk through the valley of the shadow of death i take a look at my life and realize i'm @pontifex #popebars pic.twitter.com/B4goCfYrCR
— brent (@brntrydn) November 30, 2015Here are some other ones.
Devil be lying I be flying Better trust Jesus Or you be frying #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/Nfis0W3GBx
— Christopher Heuertz (@ChrisHeuertz) December 1, 2015thoughts on God? - real fav prayer position? - kneel shuffle the cards - deal, body of Christ - meal #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/4ENr2OsG9K
— Chris Melberger (@chrismelberger) December 1, 2015Were the leader of the Catholic church to begin experimenting with the rap genre, it would represent a significant departure from his earlier work. Last month, Francis released his debut album, Wake Up!, which many placed in the prog rock genre.
His Holiness has other ties to the world of music. Years before he became God’s representative on earth he was a bouncer at a nightclub in Buenos Aires, and has professed an “intense fondness” for milonga, the traditional music of Argentina. He also likes tango dancing.
Francis is not the first pope to display a musical bent. Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013, was a keen piano player and played the harmonium in his youth. His favourite composer is Mozart.
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