Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Pope (of Rome) n.

home.

1859, 1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 199/2: Pope (Com. Eng.). Abbreviation of pope o’ Rome, the rhyming for home.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 8: Pope of Rome: Home.
1953		J. Franklyn Cockney 293: Telling the potman to put it on the Cain and Able (table) same as if he was at the Pope o’ Rome (home).
1957		G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 269: I must die for the want o’ Johnny Rann, / No Little Nell shall be rung for / This Pope-o’-Romeless pot-’n-pan / My ding-dong has been sung for.
1969		S.T. Kendall Up the Frog.
1972		Dodson & Saczek Dict. of Cockney Rhy. Sl.
2002		D. Shaw ‘Dead Beard’ at www.asstr.org 🌐 Maybe I won’t even wait to get pope in rome before I sound off: maybe I’ll ask the local bottles and stoppers if they know about what’s on your sheet with the sweeny todd.