By the time Pope Leo XIII died at 93 in 1903, he had penned more papal documents than nearly any other pope in history. The prolific pontiff authored 88 encyclicals, even official letters addressed to Catholic bishops, averaging 30,000 words. But what kept this 19th-century cleric churning out high-octane theology well into his 90s? According to historical records and revived accounts, it wasn’t divine intervention. It was cocaine wine!
The “Good Pope” Leo XIII, known for trying to modernize Catholicism and align it with science and reason, had a not-so-secret weapon: Vin Mariani, a wine laced with cocaine. Far from a Vatican secret, Leo was so enchanted by the drink that he carried it around in a hip flask, proclaiming it “fortified him when prayer was insufficient.”
In the 1800s, cocaine was not yet criminalized. It was viewed as a miracle tonic for vitality and productivity.
And Leo XIII became its most high-profile fan.
Vin Mariani Was The Wine of Popes, Queens, and Inventors
Vin Mariani was the brainchild of French chemist Angelo Mariani, who blended Bordeaux wine with coca leaves to create what was advertised as a health elixir.
The result? A beverage that delivered a buzz powerful enough to win over popes, queens, writers, and even scientists. Queen Victoria reportedly enjoyed it, Ulysses S. Grant sipped it while writing his memoirs, and Thomas Edison endorsed it for long work hours.
Pope Leo XIII carried a flask of wine laced with c*caine and awarded a medal to the chemist who made it – the concoction was called Vin Mariani, and it was wildly popular among elites in the late 1800s, including Thomas Edison and Queen Victoria. pic.twitter.com/oxqH2iwvrl
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) June 1, 2025
But Pope Leo XIII’s endorsement skyrocketed the drink’s credibility. Rather than keep his affection private, Pope Leo invited Mariani to Rome, awarded him a Vatican gold medal, and wrote him a personal testimonium. The papal praise was printed in bold on advertisements alongside Leo’s smiling face, making him (unknowingly, perhaps) an early brand ambassador for what was, effectively, a cocaine energy drink.
One now-famous ad quoted Leo as saying: “His Holiness the Pope writes that he has fully appreciated the beneficial effects of this Tonic Wine, and has forwarded to Mr. Mariani as a token of his gratitude a gold medal bearing his august effigy.”
Think of it as the 19th-century version of celebrity influencer culture; only the influencer wore white robes and a papal miter.
What Was Pope Leo XIII’s Productivity Secret?
While the idea of a pope touting cocaine-infused wine might raise modern eyebrows, it’s essential to understand the context of the time. Cocaine was not only legal but widely embraced as a medical marvel. It was considered sophisticated, elite, and invigorating. It perfectly aligned with the Catholic Church’s image of vitality under Leo’s long reign.
Leo XIII’s productivity in old age became legendary. Writing hundreds of thousands of words, managing the Church’s global influence, and dealing with a complex political scene while drinking Vin Mariani helped shape him into a modern Catholic icon. While today’s popes canonize teenage tech saints like Carlo Acutis, Leo was canonizing his energy source.
Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Piergiorgio Frassati will be canonized together in Rome on September 7, 2025.
This morning, Pope Leo XIV presided over the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Canonization of the Blesseds, announcing that these Italian young men will be inscribed in the… pic.twitter.com/U4N0aQuUyR
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 13, 2025
The contrast between Leo’s chemically enhanced legacy and the Church’s current moral compass is striking. Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming canonization of Carlo Acutis (an internet-savvy millennial who died of leukemia in 2006) marks a clean, digital shift. Where Leo XIII turned to cocaine for inspiration, Acutis turned to coding and Eucharist miracles.
One carried a flask; the other coded a Catholic website.
Yet they both testify that the Catholic Church has always found new ways to stay relevant. Whether by bottling energy in Bordeaux or blessing influencers on the cloud!
