Recently, a viral rumor circulated on social media, suggesting that Pope Leo XIV had begun following rapper Nicki Minaj on the platform known as X (formerly Twitter). This gossip emerged shortly after Robert Francis Prevost, the new pontiff, was officially elected during a papal conclave that took place from May 7 to 8, 2025. Making history as the first Pope from the United States in the Catholic Church’s two-millennia legacy, Prevost hails from Chicago.
The rumor originated from the X account @DropPopNet, which claimed that the newly appointed Pope had followed Minaj. The post featured a screenshot purportedly displaying the rapper’s name on the Pope’s following list, captioned with:
“Pope Robert Francis Prevost has followed Nicki Minaj on X/Twitter.”
Upon further investigation, however, it became evident that this claim was unfounded. A review of the Pope’s actual following list on X revealed that Nicki Minaj’s account is notably absent.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that @DropPopNet is recognized as a parody account, as highlighted in its bio, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the claim.
A Closer Look at Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV, who succeeds the late Pope Francis, was elected after a two-day conclave. Though an American by birth, he is regarded as the “second Roman Pontiff from the Americas”, reflecting his significant work as a missionary in Peru. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was the first Pope from the Americas, originally from Argentina.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost became a priest in 1982 and subsequently missioned in Peru in 1985. He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru in 2015 and was elevated to archbishop in January 2023 before being made a cardinal in September 2024 by Pope Francis.
According to a report by the BBC, Pope Leo XIV appears to align with many progressive ideologies supported by Pope Francis, particularly regarding immigration. In a pre-conclave interview with Italian network Rai, Prevost noted:
“I was born in the United States… But my grandparents were all immigrants, French, Spanish… I was raised in a very Catholic family, both of my parents were very engaged in the parish.”
His progressive stance extends to environmental issues as well. He has previously expressed support for Pope Francis’ initiative to include women in the Dicastery for Bishops. He stated in a 2024 interview with Catholic News Service that women’s involvement “contributes significantly to the process of discernment in looking for who we hope are the best candidates to serve the Church in episcopal ministry.”
Upon his election, the 69-year-old pontiff addressed the gathered crowd from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, greeting them in both Italian and Spanish, and starting his remarks with the words: “Peace be with you.”
Pope Leo XIV is now the fourteenth Pope to carry the name Leo, following the last Pope Leo, who served from 1878 until 1903.