The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, based in Milwaukee, has recently stepped into the limelight with the reveal of its latest collectibles honoring Pope Leo XIV, the first United States-born pontiff, in a fitting tribute to the historical significance of his election, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Jumping on the bandwagon of Pope Leo XIV merchandise, which kicked off with items ranging from an Italian beef sandwich courtesy of Portillo's to Aurelio's cheeky "Pope-a-Roni pizza", and a slew of other branded goods like tote bags, mugs, and shirts, the bobbleheads are available for $30 each, plus $8 for shipping, which is the same price as their Pope Francis predecessors; this merchandising surge is a testament to the inherent commercial magnetism that follows such momentous events the NBC Chicago highlighted.
"We are thrilled to continue the tradition of bobbleheads celebrating the newest pope with the unveiling of these bobbleheads featuring Pope Leo XIV," Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, conveyed the excitement for the new collection, anticipating their popularity amid the current fanfare surrounding North America's first pope; the collection includes a version of the pontiff as presented on the St. Peter’s Square balcony and another dressed in canonical garments.
Uniting Pope Leo XIV with a venerable assemblage of Chicago icons, from Rube Foster of the Chicago American Giants to the 1985 Bears Super Bowl team and the Obamas, these bobbleheads, are a part of embracing the city's diverse heritage and the figures who've shaped its story, as exemplified by last month's homage to the Wrigley Field goose which, after taking possession of a swath of bleachers at the famed ballpark, earned itself a place in the quirky archives of the museum's historical figures.
