Brother of actor who played Paulie Walnuts on ‘Sopranos' is one of the priests who elected new pope
One of the priests in Rome for the conclave is the brother of the actor who played famed 'Sopranos' mobster Paul 'Paulie Walnuts' Gualtieri, according to a report.
Among the Roman Catholic cardinals casting secret ballots this week is Father Robert Sirico — who fans of the show noticed is a dead ringer for the fictional mafia underboss.
The man of God is the elder brother of the late Tony Sirico, who played Tony Soprano's brutal and wise-cracking chief henchmen on the trailblazing New Jersey-based crime drama, the UK Mirror reported.
3 Father Robert Sirico is the elder brother of the actor who played Paul 'Paulie Walnuts' Gualtieri on 'The Sopranos.'
The odd-couple siblings grew up in an Italian-American Catholic family in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn and remained close despite their dramatically different career paths, the outlet reported.
Fans spotted that the cardinal had a famous look-alike after he appeared in an interview on ny1.com Wednesday discussing how long the conclave voting process may take.
Father Sirico — who is also the co-founder of the conservative think tank The Emeritus of the Acton Institute — gave a heartfelt tribute when his brother died in July 2022 at age 79, saying he 'absolved him of his sins' on his deathbed.
3 Father Robert Sirico is among the 133 cardinals who will vote in Rome on a new Pope.
Acton Institute
'I sensed that the end was coming. So as we sat in a private location, I pulled out a Confessional Stole from my pocket. I looked into his eyes and I said, 'How about that confession?' Father Sirico said in a death announcement.
3 Mobster Paul 'Paulie Walnuts' Gualtieri was played by Tony Sirico on 'The Sopranos.'
Getty Images
'My brother agreed and I did one of the most significant things a priest can do for another human being. I absolved him of all of his sins,' he said.
Before his big break, the actor had a checkered past with 28 arrests charges reportedly including robbery, assault and gun possession.
He also made an appearance in the films 'Godfather: Part II' and 'Goodfellas.'
During the conclave meetings, 133 eligible cardinals are sequestered inside the Vatican to pray and vote for the next pope.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope.
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