Pope Francis, late former head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City, passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. Shortly after, a video had surfaced on the internet that apparently depicted Pope Francis being welcomed by ‘old friends’ such as boxing legend Muhammad Ali and theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, reportedly deceased and in heaven.
Who Was In The Video?
The 31-second video contains several famous figures welcoming the Pope with warm hugs. These include Queen Elizabeth II, basketball player Kobe Bryant, and footballer Diego Maradona.
The Pope also greets American rapper Mac Miller and Princess Diana, then singer Michael Jackson and child actor Cameron Boyce. As the video progresses, Pope Francis greets English singer Amy Winehouse, actor Chadwick Boseman, Brazilian football legend Pelé, and actor Robin Williams.
The video ends with the Pope taking a selfie with actor Paul Walker and deceased One Direction member Liam Payne before finally getting reunited with his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Watch here:
Poor Francis meeting some old friends! ? pic.twitter.com/WwjHbkRJhk
— Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) April 25, 2025
How Social Media Reacted?
The video sparked strong reactions online, with some viewers calling it ‘disgustingly creepy’ and ‘weird and lowkey disrespectful’.
Others expressed their discomfort, with one commenter saying, “I know it was meaning to be heartbreaking or whatever but this kind of stuff has to stop,” while another described it as “definitely the most dystopian thing I’ve seen today.”
Many found it perplexing that Stephen Hawking, who famously denied the existence of heaven, was depicted in the video still using his wheelchair. Another said, “Too bad when u die there isn’t anything.”
Pope Francis was a humble, generous, and forward-looking thinker for social causes. He also dressed in less formal attire with regard to the papacy, living in a guest house instead of the papal apartments.
