In a move likely to delight both trading card enthusiasts and admirers of papal history, Topps NOW has announced the release of a special limited-edition trading card commemorating the election of Pope Leo XIV. This isn’t just any pontiff, though—it’s historic, as Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American-born pope in the Catholic Church’s expansive history, and the card captures the electric moment he first greeted the public from St. Peter’s Basilica. As more than 150,000 gathered in the vast square to witness history and tradition come together in a harmonious symphony of reverence and modernity, the world watched on. Now, those enchanting moments have been encapsulated onto a piece of cardboard, an unlikely canvas for such a monumental occasion.
Collectors and admirers can acquire this unique piece of history exclusively through Topps’ official website, but they’ll need to act fast as the card will only be available until May 11, 2025, which leaves them mere months to secure their place in both religious and collectible history. In an unprecedented collaboration of cultural realms, the entrance of trading cards into the Vatican landscape lends a modern flair to tradition, forging a new path where collectibles meet ecclesiastical history.
The passing of Pope Francis initiated the time-honored tradition of papal succession in the Vatican, commencing with mourning ceremonies and culminating in the secretive and historic papal conclave. The eyes of the world were trained on Vatican City as 16 days of anticipation unfolded, each passing day heightening the suspense until the Sistine Chapel finally revealed its secret to the world. White smoke elegantly billowed into the sky, a timeless signal passed from ancient tradition into modernity, declaring to the faithful and the curious alike that a new leader was chosen—the 267th of his kind.
Topps NOW embraced the opportunity to intertwine trading card culture with a religious milestone, solidifying the moment on a medium more commonly associated with stats than blessings. What truly adds a touch of novelty for collectors is the intriguing hunt for the “White Smoke” Short Print—a limited variant consisting of just 267 copies. This nod to Pope Leo XIV’s place in the papal lineage imbues the card with additional mystique and desirability. As is common in the collectible world, some lucky participants will find these ultra-rare cards nestled among their orders, setting ignitions to hobby-like fervor.
While trading cards have traditionally been seen as the realm of sports fans and niche collectors, the introduction of Pope Leo XIV’s trading card marks a potentially new horizon for collectibles as a celebratory form of cultural documentation. Could this card possibly be the biggest non-sport card debut of the year? With a global audience of 1.4 billion Catholics, the tapestry of interest in this card weaves beyond typical trading card demographics, touching not just collectors of cardboard but those who are lovers of heritage and history. Finding its place amongst coups such as the 2024 Olympic series or the widely sought-after Shohei Ohtani milestones, Pope Leo XIV’s card may traverse milestones set more by cultural weight than numerical value.
The notion of papal white smoke becoming more than a centuries-old tradition, but rather a tangible collectible, is one that marries past to present in an unexpectedly delightful way. For history buffs, card enthusiasts, and the faithful alike, this release is a divine confluence of culture and curiosity. Eager collectors are not merely chasing after printed cardboard but are instead reaching for a piece of religious history, one accessible in their hands but transcendent in its significance. Thus, as Topps NOW defies the bounds of typical hobby confines, it turns card collecting into an act of archiving a moment that is singularly sacred, eternally remembered, and joyously celebrated.
