Flyers Fan Gifts Jersey to Pope Leo XIV for Playoff Luck

In Philadelphia, a devoted fan of the Philadelphia Flyers took an unconventional step to boost his team's playoff chances by presenting Pope Leo XIV with a customized team jersey during a family visit to the Vatican on March 18. Mike Culin, hoping for some divine assistance amid the team's struggles, succeeded in catching the pontiff's attention in St. Peter's Square, an encounter that has since fueled speculation among fans as the Flyers fight for a postseason berth.

Culin, from Essington, Pennsylvania, organized the jersey as a unique gift during a trip to Italy with his wife, Christine; their son, Jesse Gennett; Gennett's wife, Valerie Giacobbe; and her parents. The garment featured "Pope Leo" on the back with the number 14, a reference to the pope's name and ordinal, though it displaced the number of current Flyers player Sean Couturier. The family positioned themselves strategically along the route of the popemobile for the papal audience, holding the jersey high to draw notice.

Christine Culin lifted the jersey by its shoulders for visibility, while Giacobbe called out, "For you! For you! For you! For you!" as the vehicle approached. The pope spotted it, pointed, and...