Seeking divine intervention for his beloved Philadelphia Flyers, fan Mike Culin bypassed conventional good-luck charms for a more celestial approach: gifting Pope Leo XIV a custom team jersey during a family trip to Italy.
“I was like, what are you doing? This costs a lot of money,” Culin’s wife, Christine, recounted. “Do you really think you’re going to be able to reach the Pope to give him this? And he believed.”
For most of the last five decades, Flyers fans have endured a level of suffering perhaps only rivaled by Job, yet Mike Culin’s faith, both in his team and in a higher power, remained unwavering.
He meticulously prepared for the ultimate “one-timer” – a chance to deliver a Flyers jersey emblazoned with “Pope Leo” on the back and the number 14 (a nod to the pontiff, with apologies to current player Sean Couturier) from Essington, Pennsylvania, all the way to the Vatican.
His target: the first U.S.-born pope, a Chicago native and an avowed sports enthusiast.
The Culins, joined by their son Jesse Gennett, his wife, and her parents, embarked on their Italian journey. Their itinerary included securing a prime spot for the papal audience in St. Peter’s Square.
On March 18, the family lined up, jersey in hand, hoping to catch Pope Leo’s eye as he passed in the popemobile.
“That was the goal, just to get him to see it,” Gennett explained. “We’re like, alright, we need to be close to the side because that’s where your best chances are that he’ll see it. And he saw it. He pointed at it and kind of gave it like a thumbs-up. It happened so fast.”
Christine Culin held the jersey aloft by its shoulders, ensuring visibility, while her daughter-in-law, Valerie Giacobbe, took it, positioning herself for a better chance to hand it over as the popemobile drew near.
“For you! For you! For you! For you!” Giacobbe shouted toward the papal entourage.
True to their hopes, a member of the security detail retrieved the jersey, passing it to a man in the vehicle behind Pope Leo, who was seen admiring it.
The family erupted in cheers, even getting an extra moment for photos when the popemobile paused for the pontiff to bless two babies.
“He could have turned to the right and not even seen it,” Mike Culin reflected. “But he turned to the left and saw the jersey.”
Culin’s gesture was as much about securing a little extra help for the Flyers from a higher power during their season’s final stretch as it was about sending Pope Leo a unique gift.
“He thought the Flyers needed that,” Gennett confirmed. “And they definitely did.”
With what some might call the ultimate man advantage, the Flyers secured a victory against Anaheim that very night, initiating a three-game winning streak.
This turnaround contributed to a 9-4 record over that period, propelling them into contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
While the “white smoke” signaling a guaranteed playoff berth hasn’t yet billowed from their home arena, the Flyers are currently clinging to a one-point lead for the final spot with three games remaining.
Some Flyers fans attribute this resurgence to papal power, while more secular observers credit a different arrival from above: Canadian teen Porter Martone, who has notched a goal and four points in his first five NHL games.
The video of the papal encounter quickly went viral after Chris Gennett, a musician and Jesse’s brother, posted the 60-second home video on TikTok.
Pope Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, is a known sports enthusiast, particularly a fan of the Chicago White Sox. He attended the 2005 World Series opener against Houston in Chicago, witnessing his beloved team’s 5-3 victory en route to a four-game sweep and their first title since 1917.
But why would he acknowledge a Flyers jersey? He did attend Villanova University near Philadelphia, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1977. Perhaps he caught a game or two at the old Spectrum, cheering on the legendary “Broad Street Bullies.”
Culin mentioned that if Pope Leo hadn’t spotted the souvenir, he would have kept the jersey – hand-stitched by a family friend – as a kitschy memento.
Perhaps, in a quiet moment, Pope Leo has even slipped on the size 52 jersey, just for fun.
“He had to see if it fits, right?” Culin quipped with a laugh.
