Who picked the music for the Vatican band as the Chicago pope tooled around his papal audience? It’s a gay anthem. One report said the Vatican band performed YMCA during its first Regina Coeli on Sunday.
Deacon Nick Donnelly said, “Unintentionally very revealing. Dancing Queen about sums up the situation.”
The Deacon continued:
It’s a staple at Pride events, gay clubs, bars, house parties, drag shows, and gay men’s choruses—songs like this offer catharsis, celebration, and release, qualities that resonate strongly in queer spaces.
It appears on Wikipedia’s “List of gay anthems,” Billboard’s LGBTQ+ anthems rankings, and many “best Pride songs” lists. In one Xtra Magazine reader poll, it was voted the most iconic queer anthem of all time.
I prefer YMCA! https://t.co/z4fLlGX4kj
— Marc Thiessen 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦🇹🇼🇮🇱 (@marcthiessen) May 7, 2026
Abba’s DANCING QUEEN is being to welcome the pope back to Rome. Please someone confirm that its fake. I’m begging you https://t.co/ysj6CZD64r
— Anthony Stine (@pontificatormax) May 6, 2026
And the band played on…
In addition to Abba, the bank played Neil Diamond.
Pope Leo XIV treated to some Neil Diamond as the band of the Pontifical Swiss Guard play Sweet Caroline. pic.twitter.com/Z8EhDy4p8k
— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) May 6, 2026