Pope Leo XIV Gets Wawa Bag of Tastykakes at Vatican

A Philadelphia delegation brought a wawa bag full of Tastykakes to the Vatican this week when it met Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova graduate. The National Constitution Center said he gave a "big belly laugh" when he saw the sweets, as the visit advanced a serious purpose ahead of next month’s Liberty Medal ceremony.

Vatican Visit

The delegation carried more than snacks. It brought a Liberty Medal, Villanova gear and a historical document connected to George Washington, along with the Wawa bag full of Tastykakes. The mix of official items and local treats gave the visit a Philadelphia edge while keeping the trip tied to the ceremony that is scheduled for next month.

Leo XIV and Tastykakes

Pope Leo XIV’s reaction turned the Tastykakes into the detail that stood out. The National Constitution Center said the pope laughed when he saw them, and that response gave the delegation a moment it could not plan for even on a formal Vatican trip.

The trip also showed how the delegation used the visit to connect a religious setting with a civic one. The Liberty Medal presentation remains the reason for the meeting, and the Vatican stop placed the ceremony’s lead-up in front of a pope who knows Villanova and recognized the package from Philadelphia.

This week also brought a separate Philadelphia note from Amy Poehler, who said the only time she has ever been called the c-word to her face was at Philadelphia International Airport after she declined an autograph request. That detail stood apart from the Vatican visit, but it kept Philadelphia in the week’s public conversation as the Liberty Medal approach continued.