Brother of Actor Ties to Papal Election

It turns out my uncle is part of the family—and not just any family. According to reports, one of the Roman priests involved in the Conclave is actually the brother of Tony Sirico, known for his iconic role as Paulie Walnuts in “The Sopranos.”

This week, the Roman Catholic Cardinals held a secret vote to elect a new Pope in Rome, and fans of the series quickly noticed this priest—he resembles the fictional Mafia underboss quite a bit.

Father Robert Sirico, the older brother of the late Tony Sirico, portrayed a tough yet wise henchman in the groundbreaking crime drama set in New Jersey. This was highlighted in a piece covered by the UK Mirror.

The two brothers grew up in a tight-knit Italian-American Catholic family in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Despite their very different life choices, they stayed close. Fans actually noticed Father Sirico’s recognizable look during an interview where he discussed the Conclave’s voting process.

Father Sirico, a co-founder of the conservative Acton Institute, gave a heartfelt tribute to his brother after his passing in July 2022 at the age of 79. He shared that he wanted to exempt Tony Sirico from his sins during their last moments together.

“I knew the end was near,” he reflected. In a private moment, he pulled out a stolen confession and asked Tony how he felt about it. He added, “I did one of the most significant things a priest could do—exempt him from all his sins.”

Before his rise to fame, Tony Sirico had a troubled past, with 28 arrests, including charges related to robbery and assault.

During the Conclave, 133 eligible cardinals are quarantined in the Vatican, praying and voting until a new Pope is elected. A two-thirds majority is needed for that.