Pope Leo felt the wrath of Chicago Bears fans after blessing Sam LaPorta and his wife – despite the тιԍнт end playing for their NFL rivals, the Detroit Lions.

LaPorta and his partner Callahan recently visited the Vatican – just days after tying the knot – to meet the first ever American-born leader of the Catholic church, Pope Leo XIV.

They were given a blessing by the new pope, who is a native of Chicago and a fan of both the Bears and the White Sox.

‘Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride. A special moment we’ll never forget,’ LaPorta wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of the ceremony.

Leo was gifted a personalized Bear’s jersey by vice president JD Vance back in May but many Lions fans celebrated his divine intervention ahead of the 2025 season.

‘Record-breaking season incoming,’ one posted on social media, echoing the excitement of many supporters.

Lions тιԍнт end Sam LaPorta and his wife were blessed by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

‘Thank you to a very busy man… a special moment we’ll never forget,’ he wrote on Instagram

LaPorta is considered one of the finest тιԍнт ends in the NFL heading into the 2025 season

But Bears fans were less happy with the pope. ‘Why would he bless a division rival?’ one asked. ‘Chicago gotta be p***ed,’ another said. 

‘Is the pope from Chicago? Not sure I like this,’ a third added. The Lions and Bears are rivals in the NFC North.

The Bears have a 105-80-5 regular-season record against the Lions but in recent years it is a rivalry that has been dominated by Detroit.

The Lions have won five of their past six meetings and Dan Campbell’s team won the NFC North last season, while the 5-12 Bears finished bottom of the division.

Pope Leo grew up rooting for the White Sox and earlier this month he wore a team cap as he greeted another pair of newlyweds at the Vatican.

He also joined in with chants of ‘White Sox! White Sox!’ during a recent event in St. Peter’s Square.