Sam LaPorta gets spiritual boost from Pope Leo XIV—are the Lions heaven-bound this NFL season?
Sam LaPorta visits the Vatican with wife (Instagram/_slaporta and callahanlaporta)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is heading into the new NFL season with a spiritual boost that few can match. Fresh off a standout Pro Bowl rookie year, LaPorta took a detour from football to experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment — receiving a blessing from none other than Pope Leo XIV at St.
Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Lions fans believe Sam LaPorta's Vatican visit could bring divine luck to Detroit's
NFL
campaign
The visit came shortly after LaPorta and his wife, Callahan, tied the knot on June 14. The newlyweds traveled to the Vatican as part of their post-wedding celebration, and the moment was documented in photos shared by LaPorta on Instagram. 'Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride,' he wrote in the caption. 'A special moment we'll never forget.'
While many fans have already dubbed the Lions as one of the top contenders in the NFC this year, LaPorta might just be bringing more than talent to the locker room — he's bringing divine favor.
After all, not many NFL players can say they were blessed by the pope himself before the season kicks off.
Interestingly, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago and appointed in May, has already made headlines for his unexpected connection to American sports. A die-hard fan of the Chicago White Sox, he was once seen cheering during the 2005 World Series. The White Sox have embraced the Pope's loyalty, even dedicating a mural to him at Guaranteed Rate Field and offering him the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a game.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it.
Panzer.Quest
Play Game
Undo
The pope's NFL allegiances remain a bit murky, though. In late May, Vice President J.D. Vance presented him with a custom Chicago Bears jersey that read 'Pope Leo' and bore the number XIV. The pope's response? A subtle but telling 'Good choice.'
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson — who previously served as the Lions' offensive coordinator — admitted in May, 'I heard rumblings, but that hasn't been discussed too much firsthand,' when asked about Pope Leo's potential football preferences.
As for LaPorta, he's coming off a stellar second season, notching 60 receptions, 726 yards, and seven touchdowns. The Lions ended the regular season at 15-2 before falling to the Commanders in the divisional round. Now, as they prepare for the next chapter without Ben Johnson and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (now the Jets' head coach), the team hopes to keep its NFC North dominance alive.
With skill, momentum, and perhaps a little divine intervention, the Lions — and LaPorta — could be primed for something special this season.
Also Read:
Swifties can't handle Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's red carpet PDA: "He was going to kiss her forehead but she went straight in"
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here
.
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
24 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Saif Ali Khan and his Pataudi boys pack Ibrahim Ali Khan, Taimur, Jeh serve good looks on their ‘park day' out: See PICS
Saif Ali Khan may be a brilliant actor, but when it comes to real life, he is a hero for his kids. The actor is a loving father and never misses a chance to spend some quality time with his four children, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Taimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan. Well, it looks like the Pataudi boys were in a mood to bond on this bright sunny day, and the Nadaaniyan star treated us with some adorable clicks from their day out. Taking to his Instagram handle, Ibrahim Ali Khan shared a couple of adorable pictures. The first picture is a rare one where we see all 4 Pataudi boys in one single frame. Saif Ali Khan. Looks sharp and classy in a blue denim and dark shirt that he paired with white sneakers. He sat in the middle of a bench. On the one end sat his eldest son Ibrahim, who had good looks in his casual attire. Saif sat with his hands on his shoulder while the Nadaaniyan star laughed and put his hand on his dad's shoulder too. On the other side sat the Jewel Thief star's two sons with wife Kareena Kapoor Khan, Taimur and Jeh. Both the boys wore matching black shorts, white socks and black shoes. While Time wore a white tee, Jeh wore a white and red striped tee. It is indeed a picture-perfect moment to see these boys posing together. Ibrahim also shared two more pictures where we can see his two younger brothers, Taimur and Jeh, indulging in a game of cricket. The youngest brother held a bat in his hand, and his stance proves that cricket runs in the Pataudi blood, while Tim can be seen bowling. The next picture shows the boys in action after Taimur has thrown the ball towards Jeh, and he is ready to bat. Sharing these pictures, the star-kid captioned it as 'park day'. Looking at the picture with all the Pataudi boys in one frame, netizens feel that it's too much good looks to handle, and we cannot agree more. Talking about Ibrahim Ali Khan's work front, he recently made his acting debut with the OTT film Nadaaniyan opposite Khushi Kapoor. He will next be seen in Sarzameen alongside Kajol.
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Hailey Bieber shows off photo of her breast milk nearly a year after giving birth to son Jack Blues
Hailey Bieber is embracing motherhood and she is not afraid to show it. The 28-year-old model and beauty mogul shared photos on Instagram on Friday, June 27, of her pumped breast milk and proudly captioned it, saying her body did that. According to a report in US Weekly magazine, Hailey Bieber shared on Instagram Story, showing a full bag of breast milk. Hailey Bieber shared a photo of her breast milk(Photo: X) Hailey welcomed her newborn child, Jack Blues Bieber, with her husband Justin Bieber, 31, in August 2024. Reportedly, Jack's arrival was accidentally revealed to fans when Justin posted a sweet caption that said, 'Welcome Home', and shared a picture of Jack's foot wrapped in a blanket. Hailey Bieber shared a breast milk photo on Instagram(Instagram) Hailey Bieber gives fans a peek into her life Hailey and Justin first announced their pregnancy in May 2024 with a sweet Instagram post. At the time, a source told US Weekly that the couple was overjoyed to become parents. Now, nearly a year into parenthood, Hailey's candid posts offered fans a raw and real glimpse into her postpartum journey. Also read: Star Trek actor William Shatner shocks fans with 50‑pound weight loss at 94: Here's how he did it Biebers adjust to parenthood while navigating relationship challenges Although Hailey is glowing in her role as a new mom, the couple has been dealing with 'a lot of stress', US Weekly quoted a source saying. This stress, the source told the publication, was stemming from Justin's unpredictable social media presence. The singer posted nearly 20 Instagram updates to mark his first Father's Day with captions ranging from saying that he's the father who is not to be messed with to wishes of Father's Day for himself. The insider told the magazine saying that things were not great at the moment and added that Justin was going through a difficult time and Hailey was giving him space to get himself back on track. Justin Bieber's pickleball adventure with wife Hailey Justin Bieber had posted multiple pictures, including one of Hailey walking near a golf cart, and another of her holding two paddles for pickleball, suggesting the couple was finding time to prioritize quality time together. In another recent Vogue interview, Hailey Bieber describes how parenthood changed her identity, mentioning that being in the postpartum stage is the most vulnerable point she has been at in her life. She also acknowledged how hard it was to contend with public opinion during that time, adding to the emotional burden. She explained that experiencing postpartum while seeing articles and reading rumors about her and Justin getting a divorce was an awful experience. FAQs How much does Hailey Bieber weigh? Hailey Bieber's weight is not officially available publicly. What was the age difference between Hailey and Justin Bieber? Justin Bieber is about three years older than Hailey. Justin was born on March 1, 1994, and Hailey was born on November 22, 1996. How has Hailey Bieber been adjusting to motherhood? Hailey has openly shared emotional and candid glimpses into her postpartum journey, calling it 'the most sensitive time' in her life.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Is Angel Reese WNBA's biggest fashionista? These 10 looks say yes
Image credit: Angel Reese/Instagram Angel Reese is undeniably one of the most fashion-conscious players in the WNBA at present. She is, in fact, called Bayou Barbie for how she adds glamour to a game that's more about power and sweat on the court. But off it, Reese knows how to steal all the attention with her carefully picked outfits for her tunnel walks. Not just outfits — the Chicago Sky power forward is also known for her ever-changing hairstyles and, on top of everything, the attitude she possesses that adds to her style. 10 Times Angel Reese proved she's WNBA's ultimate Barbie Angel Reese treats the tunnel as her runway, though she has expressed her desire to do a ramp walk at a real fashion show in the future. And every time she appears at a stadium for a basketball game, she makes sure her fashion appearance is already making her fans sit up and take notice. Her recent pre-game appearances are already setting the buzz with her one-liners. 'I am exactly who I think I am,' she wrote with a video of her in a black trench coat, dark shades, and a matching fur scarf covering her entire forehead on her way to a game. Days before, it was a different hairstyle — and even before that, another. Image credit: Angel Reese/Instagram Image credit: Angel Reese/Instagram Angel Reese on her love for fashion The 23-year-old was on the cover of Vogue this year. Opening up about being known for her fashion sense, Angel Reese told the magazine in an interview, 'It's always been both: basketball and fashion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo But I was a fashion girlie from young too. I was always in my mom's closet, putting on her stuff. I liked to carry a purse. Hair done. I wanted to look put together. I still do.' 'I used to watch America's Next Top Model with Tyra and practice my walk in the living room,' she said, while talking about her love for modeling and fashion since a young age. Reese recently also walked the red carpet at the MET Gala in a quirky black gown. Image credit: Angel Reese/Instagram Even before she made it to her first Draft, Angel Reese had debuted as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model in its 2023 issue. Angel Reese brings her A-game on the court Angel Reese is as much known for her game as she is for her fashion sense. She was the 7th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. In her debut year, she was named the WNBA All-Star and also set a single-season record in rebounds. She has an average of 11.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Also Read: WNBA star Angel Reese sends 7-word reaction to brother Julian Reese ahead of 2025 Draft day Now her brother, Julian Reese, has also arrived on the scene. The Los Angeles Lakers have signed him for their Summer League squad. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
