Saturday Night Live had a humorous take on this week’s news, particularly focusing on the appointment of the new pope, Leo XIV, marking a significant moment as he becomes the first American to hold this position. Co-anchor Colin Jost opened the segment by expressing both pride and shame as an American Catholic, referring to Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, humorously as someone who “you can tell he’s from the South Side [of Chicago] because he’s got his hands up.” This line elicited a mix of laughter and uncertain reactions from the audience.
Jost made light of the initial concerns surrounding the new pope’s background, jokingly referencing his worries that the pope might be Kanye West due to his controversial views. He also addressed right-wing criticisms regarding the pope’s supposed progressive stance, quipping, “How woke can a 69-year-old man from Chicago be?” He encapsulated the reality that there’s a difference in the cultural connotations of being a Catholic and being ‘woke.’
Other comedic highlights included co-host Michael Che making a jab at Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, claiming she had been celebrating her new appointment with wine for nearly 50 years. They joked about former President Donald Trump’s antics, including an absurd proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign films and his desire to reopen Alcatraz as a representation of contradictory qualities.
Che also cast doubt on the idea that serious Catholics would embrace Trump’s AI-generated image of the pope, suggesting that the humor of the situation was too juvenile for the church. The Weekend Update featured a variety of comedic segments, including recurring characters and sketches that showcased the cast’s physical comedy skills.
This week’s SNL episode not only entertained with witty commentary on political figures and current events but also highlighted the show’s continued relevance in critiquing societal norms and expectations. The blending of serious themes and comedy underscores how humor can serve as a platform for discussing important issues.