Not every NFL team can say that they’ve had one of the own blessed by the Pope, but the Detroit Lions aren’t just any NFL team. Considering that the Lions have lost two of their key coaches heading into the 2025-26 season in Ben Johnson, who went to the Chicago Bears, and Aaron Glenn, who is with the New York Jets, they need all the blessings they can get.
The Lions are still in the offseason, so it’s a downtime for both the players and coaching staff. During the offseason, players in the NFL often do important things, such as get married, because it would be pretty hectic to get married in the middle of a busy season.
Now, one member of the Detroit Lions has not only has gotten married during the offseason but also met and was blessed by Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Italy. So, maybe that will bring some good luck to the Lions’ squad once the season kicks off in September. Get out that rosary now.
A Detroit Lions Player Blessed By the Pope
As any good Catholic knows, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at 88 years old.
Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago, but he’s not just someone who has been in the U.S. his whole life. He spent many years working as a missionary in Peru, where he served for roughly 20 years. “He was appointed as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, promoted to archbishop in 2023, and then cardinal in the following year,” NPR notes of his history.
“Robert Francis Prevost is from the northern part of the continent, though he spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms,” adds Vatican News.
This brings us to the Detroit Lions player who has already met and been blessed by Pope Leo XIV. Lions tight end Sam LaPorta got married to his girlfriend, Callie, on June 14, 2025.
Sam LaPorta and His Wife Meet the Pope
“Over the last 11 months, I’ve had the honor of getting to know these two, what they value, what they hold close, and how deeply they love,” their photographer shared in a post on social media. “From the start, it was clear: their faith, their families, friends and their devotion to one another were at the heart of everything.”
“Their wedding day felt like a reflection of that—simple, sincere, and overflowing with love,” the photographer added. “Every detail was just the cherry on top of something already so meaningful.”
On June 24, LaPorta took to social media to share a photo with his wife getting blessed by Pope Leo XIV. “Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride. A special moment we’ll never forget,” he said with the hashtag Catholic.
“LaGoata is now blessed by the Pope. Record-breaking season incoming,” one follower commented. “My tight end got blessed by the pope he going for 1500 yards,” another stated.
Getting blessed by the Pope as newlyweds is totally a new level of relationship goals, and hopefully some of that blessing will spill over to the Lions.
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