The Lions seem to be in for a special year.
Specifically, Sam Laporta and his wife Callahan recently visited St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City, where they had the honor of receiving a blessing from Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago.
The couple, who got married on June 14, quickly made their way to the Vatican, as showcased in a photo posted on Laporta’s Instagram.
“Thank you to the incredibly busy person who congratulated my bride and me,” he shared in the post’s caption. “It’s a moment we will cherish forever.”
Pope Leo, who was appointed in May, has expressed his love for sports, and there’s been quite a bit of discussion surrounding him lately.
The Chicago White Sox, leaning into the Pope’s Southside fandom, plans to create a mural at Guaranteed Rate Field and has even offered him the chance to throw the first pitch at a game.
In late May, the Vice President presented Leo with a Bears jersey, further connecting the Pope to the sporting world. Interestingly, “Pope Leo” was draped behind the jersey, a unique twist.
“A solid choice,” Leo remarked to the Vice President.
In early May, Ben Johnson commented on the buzz surrounding those discussions, though it wasn’t a major topic back then.
As for the Lions, they had a strong 15-2 record last season but unfortunately faced elimination in the divisional round against the Commanders.
Laporta had an impressive rookie season, racking up 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns.
Now, Detroit is focused on staying at the top of the NFC North, especially with the absence of Johnson and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is the new head coach for the Jets.
