“Between Zamora and León, the marker says there are 14 kilometers left until León — <em>your name</em>, Holy Father.”
When a simple Spanish road sign went viral recently, few imagined it would end up in the hands of Pope Leo XIV — much less that he would ask to pose for a photo with it. Yet that is exactly what happened, as reported by Ana Palacios de Elías in her article for COPE. The story began on a quiet stretch of highway between Zamora and León, Spain, where a standard kilometer marker reading “León 14” suddenly became internet-famous the day the world welcomed a new pope named Leo XIV.
Fr. Héctor Galán, a priest from Zamora, decided the now-famous sign should make its way to the pontiff. During a private audience at the Vatican with members of the international foundation Religión y Sociedad, he presented the Pope with a framed photo of the sign — along with a small taste of home: Local pastries and what Fr. Galán described as “a very good jamón.” (Spanish hams are famous around the world.)
The meeting, as recounted by COPE, had the relaxed atmosphere of “a gathering among friends.” That familiarity was made possible in part by Bishop Piorno, an emeritus bishop who lived many years in Peru and knew Pope Leo from the days when both served as bishops.
The relaxed setting gave Fr. Galán and his fellow priest, Narciso — who first suggested bringing the photo — a chance to share the little joke they had been enjoying for months.
At first, Pope Leo XIV didn’t quite catch the humor. “In Rome the road signs look different,” Fr. Galán explained. So he walked him through it: “Between Zamora and León, the marker says there are 14 kilometers left until León — your name, Holy Father.” Once the penny dropped, the Pope’s reaction was immediate warmth. His smile widened, and he asked — in Spanish — “Take a photo of me; this is quite amusing.”
According to COPE’s reporting, the room dissolved into laughter as the Pope held the small framed sign like a cheerful souvenir. It was a moment his visitors say captured something essential about him: his ease, his kindness, and his willingness to enjoy a good-natured joke. He has, in fact, described himself like this: "There's a big part of me that enjoys living ..."
The idea to bring the sign began as a playful conversation between two rural parish priests preparing for a big meeting. Fr. Galán and Fr. Narciso serve the same parish in Zamora and minister to about 20 villages in the region of Sayago. Their communities are places where faith and humor often go hand in hand, and where priests are woven into daily life in a very personal way.
By sharing the story with COPE, Fr. Galán hoped to highlight something often overlooked: the beauty of simple, joyful moments in Church life. “We need people to notice these pleasant, friendly stories,” he said. Stories that remind Catholics and non-Catholics alike that the Church is not only an institution but also a community of human beings — people capable of laughing together, surprising one another, and building trust through everyday gestures.
