Bears, Lions get key rivalry update with Pope Leo XIV announcement

The NFC North race is heating up... in the Vatican.

The Roman Catholic Church named its new pope on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV.

He was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, a native of Chicago, which quickly sent sports fans down rabbit holes trying to find his fandoms.

There's been confirmation of the new pope's support of the Chicago Cubs, but nothing about his NFL tastes.

Is he a Bears fan? No one is really sure.

And his choice of name, while clearly having nothing to do with the NFL, actually links him with a Bears rival.

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The Detroit Lions will gladly claim Pope Leo XIV as one of their own, given the ties between the name Leo and the kings of the jungle.

The Lions could use a bit of divine help to seek out their first Super Bowl. They were the top seed in the NFC a season ago but were upset in the divisional round by the Washington Commanders.

The Bears would much prefer the new pope be on their side, in the hopes of a jolt for second-year QB Caleb Williams and first-year coach Ben Johnson.

Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States. Everyone across the U.S. sports world will be looking to recognize him as one of their own.

And in the NFC North, the waters are just a tad murky.

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