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Pope Leo XIV 'woke' quote, rumored Macron cocaine video & James Slife

Plus: Most of these 10 Time magazine covers aren't real

Author

Izz LaMagdeleine
May 13, 2025

TUESDAY EDITION

Snopes Debunker

A white man wearing robes raises his left hand. To the right, white text says, "To all who sent prayers, love, and hope as I begin this sacred journey — thank you. I accept this role not as a throne, but as a vow: To serve the forgotten, To uplift the broken, To speak plainly where others stay silent. To be called "woke" in a world that sleeps through suffering is no insult — it is Gospel. Woke means awakened by compassion. Guided by truth. Humbled by grace. Committed to justice — not just for some, but for all. So let them mock. Let them sneer. We will still build the Kingdom — not with walls, but with love. Be awake. Be loving. Be woke. — Pope Leo XIV"

Pope Leo XIV didn't once urge people to 'be woke'

Shortly after the election of Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, a meme began spreading online that attributed a quote about what it meant to be "woke" to the new pontiff. The image showed the pope, born Robert Prevost, standing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica with one hand raised in blessing alongside a block of text.

Google searches using combinations of terms such as "Pope Leo XIV," "Robert Prevost" or "woke" yielded no relevant results from credible sources. The quote also did not appear on the Vatican's official press websites or in any public remarks attributed to the pope by reputable news organizations. Snopes reporting fellow Aleksandra Wrona has the details.

Video does not show Macron hiding bag of cocaine from photographers

The French president was traveling by train with the leaders of Germany and the U.K. to Kyiv, Ukraine, in May.

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MMR vaccine doesn't contain 'a lot of aborted fetus debris,' contrary to RFK Jr.'s assertion

The claim stems from a misunderstanding of how the MMR vaccine is produced.

Former Air Force Gen. James Slife wasn't sentenced to hang to death for treason

Online users, primarily posting on Facebook, copied and pasted a made-up rumor about the former vice chief of staff of the Air Force.

Peyton Manning left black-tie charity gala in tuxedo to comfort crying kid in hallway?

The story claimed Manning said of Dylan, the child, "I thought I was the guest of honor. But I think we just found the real star of the night."

Staff Pick

Most of these 10 Time magazine covers aren't real

Fabricated Time magazine covers often feature prominent figures, including heads of state.