Travis and Jason Kelce have risked angering Catholics after they had a crass discussion about Pope Leo XIV’s celibacy.
The newly-elected head of the Catholic Church, who hails from Chicago, made history last week as he became the first American pope.
And on the newest episode of New Heights, Travis wondered aloud how ‘a young lad from the streets from Chicago’ wound up in his position.
‘Gotta be pretty devout, obviously you can’t have sex,’ Jason said. ‘That’s a big rule, that’s a big one.’
Travis then replied: ‘Somebody getting out of Chicago without that?… honestly they’re probably like, ‘He made it out of Chicago without any intercourse, this guy can do anything.
‘This guy’s convicted,’ Jason added as his brother laughed. ‘This guy, not getting distracted one bit, this f***er’s locked in.
Travis and Jason Kelce made some jokes about the pope’s celibacy on New Heights
Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV was elected as head of the Catholic Church last week
‘And in the 90’s when the Bulls were f***ing studs?,’ Travis asked, to which Jason said: ‘What, you think he’s gonna f*** Michael Jordan, what are you talking about?’
‘Dude the city was magic, it was electric,’ Travis shot back.
The brothers, who were raised by parents Donna and Ed, are believed to have been brought up as Christians, though neither have been very outspoken about their religious views.
However, Travis earlier this year expressed his regret for a ‘f***ing dumb’ tweet that resurfaced on Easter.
Back in 2010, a then-20-year-old Kelce, two years into his college career with Cincinnati, posted: ‘Happy Easter to all! Shoutout to Jesus for takin one for the team… haha’
‘So ridiculous,’ he said on the brothers’ podcast. ‘My favorite part of it is the ‘Ha ha’ at the end.’
Travis also touched on religion when discussing teammate Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech at a Catholic college last year.
Travis’ teammate Harrison Butker drew criticism for his remarks at a Catholic school last year
Kelce is returning for a 13th NFL season after his Chiefs lost in the Super Bowl to the Eagles
The kicker told graduating women of Benedictine College that they should be more ‘excited’ to become wives and mothers rather than successful professionals, and railed against ‘dangerous gender ideologies’ being pushed onto kids.
Afterwards, Travis said he didn’t agree with ‘just about any’ of Butker’s views.
‘I grew up in a beautiful upbringing of different social classes, different religions, different races and ethnicities in Cleveland Heights,’ he said after on New Heights.
‘That’s why I love Cleveland Heights for what it was. It showed me a broad spectrum, a broad view of a lot of different walks of life.’
The brother’s pope jokes this week come after President Trump earned criticism from some Catholics after he posted an AI picture of himself as the pope to social media.
The picture was also re-posted by the official White House account social media accounts, though certain Catholic groups complained and did not find it funny.
