Pope Leo XIV Joins Youth in Viral ‘6-7’ Meme Gesture

Pope Leo XIV recently became a participant in an internet trend by replicating the ‘6-7’ motion, a meme popular with those under 16. During a preparation session for the sacrament of confirmation at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by Don Roberto Fiscer, a priest and Catholic influencer from Genoa, the pope stopped by and engaged with the youth.

In a video that gained widespread attention, Fiscer asked the children, ‘What is it that you kids do?’ The group excitedly responded with ‘6-7!’ accompanied by the meme’s hand gesture. The pope, amused, mirrored their movements and said ‘6-7.’ Fiscer explained his intention was to bridge the gap between the kids and the pope, stating, ‘Since the pope is one of us, he should learn this greeting too.’

Understanding the ‘6-7’ Phenomenon

The ‘6-7’ meme confounds many adults, but its meaning is elusive: it signifies nothing in particular. Originating from the drill rap song ‘Doot Doot’ by Skrilla, the lyric ‘six-seven’ became part of a TikTok video about basketball player LaMelo Ball.

The video noted Ball’s movement was unexpected given his height, prompting the song’s use at that point. From there, young basketball fans paired the phrase with the hand gesture, propelling it to viral status among Gen Alpha, aged 1 to 16.

The Decline of ‘6-7’

As adults began to interpret and engage with ‘6-7,’ the meme’s popularity waned among young people. Reflecting this shift, actor Amy Poehler mentioned on her podcast Good Hang that ‘6-7’ was ‘over now’ among teenagers.

With Pope Leo—a senior figure in a historical institution—adopting the meme, its allure seems diminished for Gen Alpha. Exposure beyond immediate youth circles suggests ‘6-7’ is losing its impact after a year of prominence.