Philadelphia Flyers fan Mike Culin took a unique approach to support his team by gifting Pope Leo XIV a customized Flyers jersey during a family trip to Italy. Culin, along with his family, attended a papal audience at St. Peter’s Square, hoping to catch the Pope’s attention.
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Behind the scenes, they fiercely strategizeIn post-WWII America, the Levittown house was a house for all — as long as you weren't BlackIraní-estadounidenses viven con inquietud tras amenazas de Trump a Irán y un frágil alto el fuego Demócratas se envalentonan al hablar de destituir a Trump tras sus amenazas a IránKuwait blames Iran for drone strikes as Trump casts doubt on ceasefire Behind the scenes, they fiercely strategizeIn post-WWII America, the Levittown house was a house for all — as long as you weren't BlackIraní-estadounidenses viven con inquietud tras amenazas de Trump a Irán y un frágil alto el fuego Demócratas se envalentonan al hablar de destituir a Trump tras sus amenazas a IránPhiladelphia Flyers fans took a unique approach to support their team by gifting Pope Leo XIV a customized Flyers jersey during a family trip to Italy. The Flyers then started a winning streak, which some fans attribute to divine intervention. Pope Leo XIV gives his thumbs up as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The Philadelphia Flyers celebrate after defeating the New Jersey Devils in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Newark, N.J. Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras is congratulated by Porter Martone after scoring his second goal of the game during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Newark, N.J. Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Philadelphia Flyers fans took a unique approach to support their team by gifting Pope Leo XIV a customized Flyers jersey during a family trip to Italy. The Flyers then started a winning streak, which some fans attribute to divine intervention. Pope Leo XIV gives his thumbs up as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Pope Leo XIV gives his thumbs up as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The Philadelphia Flyers celebrate after defeating the New Jersey Devils in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Newark, N.J. The Philadelphia Flyers celebrate after defeating the New Jersey Devils in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Newark, N.J. Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras is congratulated by Porter Martone after scoring his second goal of the game during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Newark, N.J. Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras is congratulated by Porter Martone after scoring his second goal of the game during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Newark, N.J. Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Philadelphia Flyers“I was like, what are you doing? This costs a lot of money,” said Culin’s wife, Christine. “Do you really think you’re going to be able to reach the Pope to give him this? And he believed.” Only Job suffered more than Flyers fans have for most of the last five decades, yet Mike Culin always kept the faith, both on ice and on high. When the time came, Culin was ready for the ultimate one-timer — a shot at somehow getting the Flyers jersey with “” on the back and 14 for a uniform number from Essington, Pennsylvania, to the Vatican and into the hands of the first U.S.-born pope, Chicago born and an avowed sports fan. The Culins and their son, Jesse Gennett, and his wife and her parents made a family trip to Italy that included staking out a spot for the papal audience in St. Peter’s Square. The families lined up on March 18 with jersey in hand, hoping to catch“That was the goal, just to get him to see it,” Gennett said. “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 high by each shoulder so the pope would spot it and her daughter-in-law asked for the jersey for a better chance to hand it off as the popemobile approached.Sure enough, a member of the security team snagged the jersey, and it was passed off to a man who admired the jersey sitting in the ride behind Leo. The families hollered in celebration and got an extra moment for photos once the popemobile stopped so Leo could bless a couple of babies. “He could have turned to the right and not even seen it,” Mike Culin said. “But he turned to the left and saw the jersey.” Culin’s wish was as much about getting the Flyers a little extra help down the stretch from a higher power as much as it was sending Leo a jersey.With the ultimate man advantage, the Flyers won that night against Anaheim to start a three-game winning streak, part of a 9-4 record over that span to move into the Eastern Conference playoff field. The white smoke to signal a playoff berth hasn’t quite billowed out of the home arena just yet: The Flyers are clinging to a one-point lead for the final spot with three games left to play. Some Flyers fans credit papal power for the streak while more secular fans believe it was indeed an arrival from above that sparked the turnaround:The papal video made the social media rounds when Chris Gennett, a musician and Jesse’s brother, posted the 60-second home video on TikTok., especially of the Chicago White Sox. He attended the 2005 World Series opener against Houston in Chicago and watched as his beloved team beat the Astros 5-3 on the way to a four-game sweep and its first title since 1917. But why would he point out a Flyers jersey? He did attend Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1977. Maybe he attended a game or two at the old Spectrum and rooted on those ready-to-rumble Broad Street Bullies. Culin said he would have worn the jersey — a family friend handstitched the name — as a kitschy keepsake had Leo not spotted the souvenir. Perhaps in his quiet time, Leo has slipped on the size 52 jersey, just for fun.Gelston is an an Associated Press sports writer covering major college and pro sports in Philadelphia, including the 76ers, Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and Villanova.Netanyahu authorizes direct negotiations with Lebanon after Israel’s attacks on Beirut
Pope Leo XIV Philadelphia Flyers General News National PA State Wire NHL Pennsylvania U.S. News Sports Valerie Giacobbe Chris Gennett Houston Astros Sean Couturier Chicago White Sox Jesse Gennett NHL Hockey Christine Culin Religion Dayton Flyers U.S. News
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