A crowded tarmac greeted Pope Francis on his first ever trip to the United States on Tuesday with boisterous chants before the pontiff rolled away in a Fiat.
Before the pontiff's plane landed, the excited crowd chanted a modified version of a familiar lick to U.S. soccer fans. Back when the U.S. soccer team played during the World Cup, fans chanted: "I believe that we will win!"
However, in the pope's case, the chant was a little different— the crowd at Andrews Air Force Base sang, "I believe. I believe that. I believe that we. I believe that we love the pope. I believe that we love Pope Francis!"
The chant didn't originate with American soccer fans, according to the Washington Post. It started with Navy football supporters in December 2003, after midshipmen won eight games which qualified the team for their second bowl game in 22 years.
Francis, originally from Argentina, is a huge soccer fan—his favorite team is San Lorenzo de Almargo of Argentina. The pontiff still keeps his associate membership card for the team. When asked in an interview if he plays soccer himself, the pope said he was not so good at kicking a ball or a 'patadura.'
The soccer chant wasn't all the crowd yelled.
"Ho, ho. Hey, hey. Welcome to the U.S.A.," many chanted once President Barack Obama greeted Francis upon his plane's arrival.
Social media had mixed reactions toward the chanting.