ALBANO, Italy (WGN) — A Chicago family vacationing in Rome surprised the Vatican’s new pope with a Chicago Bears-themed gift Sunday.
The Muñoz family met Pope Leo XIV after mass Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Pancras in Albano—think of the town as a southern suburb to Rome. The Muñozes gifted him a ‘Da Pope’ T-shirt, which is a spinoff of the popular nickname for Chicago’s NFL team, ‘Da Bears,’ which originated from the Superfans sketch on Saturday Night Live.
When they gave Pope Leo his new custom T-shirt, the Muñoz family was also wearing them as they waited outside of the cathedral for mass to end.
“We were late and just stood at the edge before a barricade was up. Then we planted ourselves in the hot sun until Mass was over. We watched it on a screen outside and even received Communion,” Ann Muñoz said on Facebook. “We were just hoping to catch a glimpse.”
Pope Leo receiving the Bears-themed T-shirt isn’t the first time a piece of Chicago sports memorabilia has changed hands between someone and the pope too.
Nearly two weeks ago, Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich presented former Chicago White Sox all-star first baseman Paul Konerko a Pope Leo-autographed jersey before a game against the Cleveland Guardians. It had the six-time All-Star’s last name and “Pope Leo” above the No. 14.
Robert Prevost became the first pope from the U.S. in the history of the Catholic Church when he was elected on May 8 earlier this year. He was born in Chicago and raised in south suburban Dolton as a White Sox fan.
Prevost attended the 2005 World Series opener against Houston in Chicago. He watched from Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 as the White Sox beat the Astros 5-3 on the way to a four-game sweep and their first title since 1917.
In May, the team unveiled a graphic installation near the seat paying tribute to Pope Leo and that moment. The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV, along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with good friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.
*Reporting from the Associated Press contributed toward this report.