“Long Live Belarus!” is the Belarusian patriotic motto.

The Young Pope’s Endorsement for President of Belarus: Nadya Tolokonnikova

The Young Pope has made his choice. In a bold and unexpected move, he declares that the ideal candidate to lead Belarus is Nadya Tolokonnikova, the Russian activist, artist, and founding member of Pussy Riot.

“She has the courage,” the Pope states. “She has faced prison, exile, and the wrath of tyrants, yet she has never wavered. She speaks truth to power, even when the cost is high. That is the kind of leader Belarus needs.”

He goes on to suggest that Nadya’s lineage may even trace back to White Russia, the historical term for Belarus. “Perhaps it is fate,” he muses. “Perhaps she was always meant to return and lead her people into a new era—one free from oppression, one where the people, not the oligarchs, hold power.”

The Vatican’s choice is sure to send shockwaves through political circles. Can an exiled punk activist become the leader of a post-Lukashenko Belarus? The Young Pope seems to believe she can.