Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 18
Pope Leo XIV Joins Viral 6-7 Trend as TikTok Video Tops 23 Million Views
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 18

Pope Leo XIV Joins Viral 6-7 Trend as TikTok Video Tops 23 Million Views

4 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 18
  • A May 16 Vatican clip showing Pope Leo XIV echoing children’s “6-7” chant and hand gesture had drawn more than 23 million TikTok views by May 18.
  • The pope joined after a brief hesitation when a group of youngsters greeted him with the phrase, then applauded as he repeated it and moved on.
  • Dictionary.com named “6-7” its 2025 Word of the Year, describing the Gen Alpha slang as an interjection or social signal often used to mean “so-so” or simply convey energy.
  • Know Your Meme traces the phrase’s rise to rapper Skrilla’s December 2024 song “Doot Doot,” where some listeners link “6-7” to 67th Street in Philadelphia.
As viral slang like '6-7' dominates youth culture, are we losing the ability for deeper, meaningful communication?
The Pope joins a viral trend but warns of AI's dangers. How does the Vatican reconcile these two digital realities?
Can a viral video truly connect the Church with young people, or does it risk trivializing its core message?