Pope Leo Jokingly 'Steals' Italian Skier's Gold Medal

A Pope with a sense of humor just created one of the most joyful moments of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Italian skier Simone Deromedis met Pope Leo at the Vatican after winning his country's first-ever gold medal in Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Cross at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. When the proud athlete showed the pontiff his hard-earned medal, Pope Leo had other ideas.

In a video that's now delighting millions online, the Holy Father examines the gold medal, then jokingly pretends to keep it for himself. Deromedis's confused expression says it all before Pope Leo breaks into a smile and returns the medal.

"I was so confused," Deromedis later posted on Instagram, adding a laughing emoji and calling the Pope "the best." His video captioned "POV: The Pope tries to steal your Olympic medal" has sparked thousands of comments and shares.

The meeting happened during a Vatican audience where Pope Leo welcomed Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes. He praised sports as "a school of fraternity and inclusion," but it was this unscripted moment of playfulness that truly captured hearts.

Sunny's Take

There's something beautiful about religious leaders who don't take themselves too seriously. Pope Leo's gentle prank shows that joy and humor belong everywhere, even in the most formal settings.

The internet agreed wholeheartedly. "What a great moment of spontaneity!" one commenter wrote. Another joked, "He was doing this, but then he remembered one of the 10 commandments."

Many praised the Pope's warmth and approachability. "I love a Pope with a good heart and sense of humor," one person shared, while another added, "God bless our Holy Father Leo."

For Deromedis, who made history with Italy's first gold in his category, the Vatican visit became an unexpected bonus to his Olympic triumph. The skier's genuine confusion turning to laughter perfectly captured the surprise of meeting a pope who breaks the mold.

In a world that often feels too serious, moments like these remind us that laughter truly is universal.