The popular slang “6-7” (six-seven) used by the younger generation has reached the Vatican City when Pope Leo XIV casually performed this meme gesture, resulting in a viral clip that has garnered tens of millions of views.
This adorable moment occurred when about 1,000 Catholic youths from the Archdiocese of Genoa traveled to Rome to prepare for Confirmation. While the Pope was greeting the crowd, the children and Father Don Roberto Fiscer, who posted the clip, invited him to do the “6-7” gesture by raising both palms and moving them up and down alternately, resembling weighing something. Though initially slightly hesitant, the Pope complied with a smile and humor, earning enthusiastic applause from the children.
Many might wonder what “6-7” or “67” means. It is slang popular among school-aged children and Gen Alpha worldwide, to the extent that Dictionary.com named it the 2025 Word of the Year.
It is generally interpreted as meaning “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” which aligns with the hand motion mimicking weighing.
However, Steve Johnson, dictionary director at the online learning and skills platform IXL Learning, explained that it is more than just a word; it is an in-group joke that connects people even before they agree on its exact meaning.
The slang is believed to originate from the song “Doot Doot” by rapper Skrilla, released in December 2024, which repeatedly features the phrase “6-7.” The meme database Know Your Meme suggests the lyrics likely reference 67th Street in Philadelphia, the artist’s hometown. It has also been associated with NBA basketball player LaMelo Ball, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall.
The trend rapidly spread on TikTok throughout 2025. Children incorporated it into daily life, making parody clips about 67% exam scores. Major franchise brands like Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, and TGI Fridays have also used the trend in promotional campaigns.
The Catholic Church leader’s participation in this meme thus enhances his approachable image.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, made history as the first American elected as the 267th Pope on 8 May 2025 GMT+7.
Known for his kindness and sense of humor, he has performed the “6-7” gesture multiple times in a friendly manner when children have done it in his presence over the past week.
Father Fiscer, who invited the Pope to do the “6-7” gesture, told CNN, “When kids around the world greet each other like this, we wanted to make him feel that he is part of us.”
This phenomenon reflects a charming and warm connection between the Vatican’s millennia-old office and digital-age pop culture, bonding people of different ages through smiles and a simple gesture like “6-7.”
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