As it turns outthis was photoshopped, but it’s still funny. It’s an image of someone in a crowd in Cuba greeting the Pope, holding up a sign saying “Welcome Potato!”, with the caption “Never trust Google Translate.”
It’s my favorite example in Spanish of how the article can change the meaning of a word. El Papa is “the pope,” la papa is “the potato.”
His friends call him “Spud”.
“Ah, nothing sticks to the ribs like a good steak and a baked Pope with plenty of butter and sour cream!”
A papal bull and potato, I believe it’s called.
Reminds me of “Ich bin ein jelly donut.”
It explains his hat. It must be to hold the sour cream and chives.
You say potato
And I say sanctification
You say tomato
and I say transubstantiation
Communion - His Body!
Protestants: it’s naughty!
Let’s call the whole thing off!
He’s the Swiss cheese of potatoes.
And what’s wrong with that article? The story is about an image, the text starts with the words “this image”, and the article starts with a picture of the Pope waving? Why is the relevant image not right at the top of the page?
So that maybe people will actually read the article and the explanation… and linger on the page long enough to notice some of the promos.
In Tom Robbins’ novel “Jitterbug Perfume” there is a group of waitresses who work in a Mexican restaurant called “El Papa Muerta”, and they question whether it means “the dead Pope” or “the dead potato”. 
On thinking about it some more: The premise of the picture is that someone who spoke only Spanish wanted to welcome the Pope, and relied on a bad translation to do so. But why would such a person have relied on a translation at all? Spanish is the Pope’s native language, after all. Surely, if a Spanish speaker wanted to welcome him, they would have made their sign in Spanish?
With the masculine article, that would definitely mean “The Dead Pope.” However, I would think the adjective should also be masculine (muerto). “The Dead Potato” should be la papa muerta.
I have not received my Welcome Potato. It was not in the basket. Was this an oversight?
Since it was photoshopped as a joke, it doesn’t need to make perfect sense. But often crowds in foreign countries will hold up signs in English for the benefit of international news media. Here’s a protest in Syria with a sign in English.
This seems to be the original photo that was photoshopped.
Frank’nTaters
