Astoria Bakery Launches Sold-Out Pope Leo XIV Cookies

La Guli Pastry, a family-owned bakery in Astoria, Queens, has introduced the "Pope Leo Cookie," a vanilla shortbread decorated with an edible image of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in Catholic Church history. The bakery, which has been honoring popes since 2013 with themed cookies including those for Pope Francis, quickly sold out its initial batch of 25 Pope Leo Cookies and plans to produce more to meet growing demand. Owner Maria Notaro expressed surprise and excitement over the election of the American pope, noting that many customers are choosing to save the cookies rather than eat them. Continuing its tradition, La Guli Pastry previously distributed Pope Francis Cookies to inmates at Rikers Island, inspired by the late pope’s visit to Montorio Prison in Italy. Notaro also intends to send a special batch of Pope Leo Cookies to Rome in hopes they will reach the new pontiff at the Vatican. The new cookie symbolizes a hopeful gesture for a new era in the Catholic Church and has generated significant local and wider interest.