It’s not too often that a football team gets a blessing from the Pope, but if anyone needs it right now it’s the New Orleans Saints. And that’s exactly what they received, even if it was a bit of a social media fluke, on All Saints Day.
November 1st commemorates All Saints Day, a day in the Christian calendar that remembers all those who have passed away in the previous year. It’s also the historical reason why Halloween is celebrated on All Hallows’ Eve, just without the costumes and candy.
To mark the Christian holiday this year, Pope Francis went to social media with an inspiring message about the Saints that the church honors and remembers. Except… he used a hashtag in front of the word “Saints” which amazingly invoked the NFL logo of the team from New Orleans.
The #Saints are formed by the Beatitudes: poor, meek, merciful, hungering and thirsting for justice, seeking peace. They are “filled with God” and incapable of remaining indifferent to the needs of their neighbour. They bear witness to paths of light that we too can trod.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 1, 2024
The only thing that could have made this better would have been if Pope Francis ended his tweet with a #WhoDat.
Saints fans filled the Pope’s mentions with the exact reactions you would expect from a team that has lost six straight games with pretty much no reason for hope or optimism given Dennis Allen remains the head coach, Derek Carr is the quarterback, and the salary cap voodoo the team annually works out may finally be running out of magic.
Not to be that guy, but I’m not even sure your blessings are gonna help that team right now
— P.K. Pajak (@PK_Pajak) November 1, 2024
You fired Benedict, why you can’t #firedennisallen too?
— Concept of A Plan (@JohnEHagan) November 1, 2024
Your Holiness do you think I should start Derek Carr in Fantasy this weekend? I’m not sure if he will be back but you seem very confident in the #Saints for some reason.
— Our Lady’s Top Guy (@floridarchist) November 1, 2024
The sad truth is after years of being perennial contenders with Sean Payton and Drew Brees at the helm it might take a miracle for the Saints to become relevant again. But at least Saints fans can take solace that the Pope is on their side. In the meantime, there’s a lot of homilies from Pope Francis on suffering that Who Dat Nation can research.
