Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Sunday 2025, Wade Jackson of Nashville, Tennessee, has some important faith-related decisions to make: namely, he is debating whether to convert to Catholicism in hopes of becoming the new pope and convincing the world to go vegan.
“I’ve always considered myself more spiritual than religious, but aligning with the religious big dogs may make sense strategically,” said Jackson. “To help the greater good, specifically animals.”
Jackson explained that although he was raised non-specified loosey-goosey Christian, he greatly admired Pope Francis, in part for the religious leader’s choice of papal name, after Saint Franics of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
“I’m an animal guy, too,” said Jackosn, an ethical vegan since the age of ten, when, in an act of animal liberation, he insisted on releasing back into the lake the three unlucky trout he and his father had caught fishing that Saturday morning. “Not quite on part with Jesus’ casting the money-lenders who were selling animals for slaughter out of the temple," he acknowledged. "But I was ten. I did what I could.”
While not vegan himself, Pope Francis did express compassion for non-human animals and encouraged people to eat less meat in order to reduce the environmental degradation caused by animal agribusiness. Jackson emphasized that he does not judge Pope Francis for not fully putting into action his purported love of animals by getting them off his dinner plate.
“We’re all on our journey,” noted Jackson. “He may not have gone al the way, but he planted some seeds of compassion for animals, and I can take things to the next level. As they say, the student shall surpass the teacher. That’s how I see my role.”
He glanced up at the sky and tapped his chest. “First vegan pope. That would be something."
For all these reasons, Jackson feels that he may be the perfect person to pick up where Pope Francis left off in his ministry and step into the papacy with a declaration of veganism for all mankind. “I’m not quite sure what the procedures are for something like that, but there's got to be a template. Some cardinals should be able to guide me in the specifics.”
Of course, all of these plans require Jackson's being elected as the new pope, a turn of events not possible unless he is officially Catholic – or so he presumes. “It’s something I need to look into more,” said Jackson. “If there’s a non-Catholic loophole, trust me, I’ll be all over it.”
He chuckled and added, “First vegan non-Catholic pope – now that would really be something.” He raised his eyes up to the sky. "You and me, God. Let's do this."
