Latest news with #Italian-AmericanCatholic
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Brother of actor who played Paulie Walnuts on ‘Sopranos' is one of the priests who elected new pope
Father's brother was in 'the family!' 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 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.
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Priest in Rome looks eerily similar to very famous actor – and it's his brother
Eagle-eyed conclave watchers were quick to spot that one of the priests in Rome for the start of voting for the new Pope looked eerily similar to the star of an iconic crime TV series The conclave gathered again today in Rome to vote on Pope Francis' successor. And with all eyes on the Vatican, there's one priest in Rome who might be used to the cameras thanks to his very famous brother. Voting for the new Pope will continue as black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel last night and this morning, but not all attention has been on the chimney. Some eagle-eyed viewers were quick to notice a familiar looking clergyman, Italian-American Catholic priest Father Robert Sirico, in Rome for the ancient proceedings this week, who looks oddly similar to a TV legend. Father Sirico's younger sibling was the late Tony Sirico, famous for his role as Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri in iconic mob crime series The Sopranos. The Italian-American brothers grew up in a Catholic household in the East Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn, in New York City. People watching the news spotted the similarities between the two brothers, while Father Sirico, co-founder of the Christian think tank Acton Institute, gave his thoughts on the conclave. The brothers, who took wildly different paths in life, remained close friends. Actor Tony died in 2022 and Father Robert announced his passing with an emotional tribute, saying: "It is with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories, that the family of Gennaro Anthony 'Tony' Sirico wishes to inform you of his death on the morning of July 8, 2022." He added: "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?' 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." Tony also made appearances in other iconic films like The Godfather: Part II and So Fine. Before his big break, the priest's brother had several run-ins with the law and was arrested 28 times including charges like robbery to assault and gun possession. Father Robert however went straight into religion but had initially stepped away from Catholicism in his youth and explored the Pentecostal Church in the 1970s. The priest made headlines when he came out as gay and he later returned to the Catholic Church. Cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel again this morning for more rounds of votes after their first secretive meeting failed to select a new Pope to lead the Catholic Church. The group of 133 cardinals did not reach a decision again, and more voting is scheduled for this afternoon.
