Spike Lee wanted Pope Leo XIV, the world’s first American Pope, to have a gift to remember U.S. sports culture. So on his visit to the The Vatican, the New York filmmaker and NBA super-fan gave him a New York Knicks jersey.
After the Pope spoke, Lee shook his hand and bestowed him the customized present, according to Sports Illustrated. The jersey not only featured the classic Knicks colors, royal blue and orange, but also “Pope Leo” on the back along with the number 14.
Catholic Sat reposted the footage as the duo showed off the very exclusive jersey.
Lee was among many leaders in the film industry, including actress Cate Blanchett and actor Viggo Mortensen, invited by the pope to the Vatican.
Pope Lo, a Chicago native, spoke of the importance of cinema as it connects the world through storytelling.
“When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges,” he said. “It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we did not know we needed to express.”
While a longtime fan of the Knicks, Lee has also become a new fan of the recently-appointed Pope Leo. Lee also took the historic moment as a sign that his Knicks will finally win another championship.
On the other hand, Pope Leo remains loyal to his own sports teams in Chicago. The modern pope has become a worldwide phenomenon for his traditional American upbringing, including his own college years at Villanova, the alma mater of current Knicks players Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.
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