PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Delaware County family is going viral for their moment with Pope Leo in the Vatican during their visit on March 18.
They got to hand his holiness a custom-made Philadelphia Flyers jersey, as the team is making a strong push to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The video has now gone viral on social media, being viewed tens of thousands of times.
“Maybe I should get a Flyers jersey and put Pope Leo on the back, and number 14, obviously, for the Pope Leo XIV. So, they got that done, and then brought it along with us, and went to Mass, and it all worked out fine,” Michael Culin told Action News.
Michael Culin is arguably the biggest fan in the family, and he decided to have that jersey made, enlisting the help of a friend.
So when the family saw Pope Leo approaching in the Pope Mobile, they shot their shot.
“It happened so quick. He just points at the jersey, gives us a thumbs up, turns to his guy, and points at the jersey, and points at his other guy, and he just grabbed it. I don’t know if you can see it, but that’s him pointing at us… it was amazing,” said Christine Culin and Valerie Giacobbe.
For those following the Pope’s growing collection of local sports memorabilia, he got a hat from his alma mater, Villanova University, last year, and even put it on.
He was also gifted an Eagles hat this year from Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez.
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