Though he’s used to the other kind of football actually played with feet, Pope Francis was presented an autographed Steelers (American) football today by Saint Vincent Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Rome.
The ball was a joint gift from the Rooney family, which owns the team, as well as Nowicki and Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, where the Steelers hold their training camps.
The ball was autographed by Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, team president Art Rooney II, head coach Mike Tomlin and several unspecified players.
A native of Argentina, Pope Francis has routinely had audiences with soccer teams from around the world.
As far as American football goes, Pope Francis’ visit to the United States nearly a year ago forced the Philadelphia Eagles to skip town and practice in nearby Monmouth N.J. for two days.
The Steelers have at least one world leader in their corner with President Barack Obama. In 2009, leading up to Super Bowl XLIII, Obama, who appointed Dan Rooney as ambassador to Ireland that year, proclaimed himself a “lifelong Steelers fan.”
The Steelers made visits to the White House to celebrate Super Bowl titles in 1980 (with President Jimmy Carter and the World Series champion Pirates), 2006 (with President George W. Bush) and 2009 (with Obama).
First Published: September 12, 2016, 6:14 p.m.