Sam LaPorta, wife get blessed by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in ‘special moment'

New York Post

6 hours ago

The Lions might be extra blessed this year.
Or at least Sam LaPorta.
The Detroit tight end and his wife, Callahan, visited St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and were blessed by Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native.
The newlyweds, who tied the knot on June 14, traveled to the Vatican soon after, as captured in pictures on LaPorta's Instagram.
4 Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
Instagram/_slaporta and callahanlaporta
4 Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
Instagram/_slaporta and callahanlaporta
'Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride,' LaPorta wrote in the caption of his post. 'A special moment we'll never forget.'
Leo, named pope in May, and his sports allegiances have been written and discussed at length, which included the unearthing of footage of him at the 2005 World Series supporting his beloved White Sox.
The White Sox have leaned into the pope's South Side baseball fandom, creating a mural inside Guaranteed Rate Field and opening up a standing offer to throw out the first pitch at a game.
4 Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions takes the field prior to an NFL Football game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
Getty Images
In late May, Vice President J.D. Vance gifted Leo, whose given name is Robert Francis Prevost, a Bears jersey with XIV and 'Pope Leo' draped across the back of the dark uniform.
'Good choice,' Leo told the vice president.
New Bears head coach — and former Lions offensive coordinator — Ben Johnson said in early May that he 'heard rumblings, but that hasn't been discussed too much firsthand' on the pope's football fandom.
As for the Lions, they finished last year with a sterling 15-2 regular season before getting bounced in the divisional round in the playoffs by the Commanders.
4 Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Commanders in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
Getty Images
LaPorta followed up his Pro Bowl rookie campaign with 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns.
Now, Detroit will be without both Johnson and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — the new Jets head coach — as it looks to maintain supremacy in the NFC North.