Pope Francis Meme Coin Explodes 130% Following His Death

NAIROBI (CoinChapter.com) — Meme coin traders reacted sharply to Pope Francis’ death on Apr. 21, with Solana-based LUCE rallying over 130% within hours. The token, named after the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year mascot, spiked as high as $0.02517 before correcting below $0.015 by press time.

LUCE Coin Rallies, Then Pulls Back 40%

The LUCE token, launched unofficially in October 2024, has no formal ties to the Vatican. Despite this, it rapidly gained attention after being created through the pump.fun platform. LUCE’s market cap hit $80 million within two days of its launch. As of Apr. 21, the token’s market cap hovered near $15 million, with 44,750 holders and liquidity of $1.8 million. Daily trading volume reached $40.7 million during the rally. The surge came amid heightened speculation following the Pope’s passing. However, the LUCE token also received a red flag from GMGN.Ai, which assigned it a 100% rug pull probability. The warning indicates a high risk of a liquidity drain or project abandonment. Despite the hype, the token retraced nearly 40% from its peak in the past week, suggesting short-term holders may have offloaded positions after the initial pump.

New Meme Coins Flood Solana Network

The LUCE rally has fueled a wave of similar tokens appearing on Solana. According to GMGN.Ai, at least four new meme coins emerged referencing the late Pope, including FRANCIS, POPE, RIP POPE, and one simply named RIP.

FRANCIS, launched just an hour after the death announcement, spiked more than 115% as traders scrambled to buy in early. The tokens typically feature images of the Pope or religious motifs, riding on viral momentum without offering real utility. While such tokens often vanish quickly, the early volatility has attracted attention. This behavior reflects a broader trend on Solana, where memecoin launches via pump.fun have become common. The low cost of deployment encourages a flood of low-liquidity assets often tied to trending events or figures. The reaction to Pope Francis’ death mirrors earlier speculative frenzies seen in the crypto space. Traders have often responded to real-world events by creating short-lived tokens to capture virality and emotional sentiment. Tokens tied to public figures or dramatic events—especially those with global recognition—frequently enjoy temporary pumps. However, they also face rapid corrections once volume fades or buyers realize the underlying project has no development or purpose.

In LUCE’s case, the coin remains one of the more prominent tokens launched through pump.fun. Its early performance helped it stand out, but continued volatility has kept risk levels high. GMGN.Ai’s rug pull rating adds further caution for retail traders unfamiliar with such tokens’ mechanics. The project’s link to a religious mascot also adds a layer of controversy, despite no official endorsement or connection to the Vatican.