American Football
Caleb Williams' gift to Pope Leo XIV may have leaked a Bears secret
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Somewhere in the Vatican, there's a closet that's starting to look like a shrine to Chicago sports.
Chicago Bears' quarterback Caleb Williams sent his No. 18 jersey to Pope Leo XIV over the Fourth of July weekend, signed and ready for framing.
Williams' own Caleb Cares charity arranged the gesture, and Brian Burch, the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, handled the handover on July 4.
AMDG and a jersey leak?
Williams didn't just sign the jersey; he inscribed 'AMDG' above his number, which is short for Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Latin for "for the greater glory of God."
But the bigger talking point was the colour of the jersey itself, one the Bears don't normally wear, leading to rumours it could be a first glimpse of the Nike 'Rivalries' alternate jerseys.
That white shirt with the blue-outlined orange numbers could be the speciality jersey the Bears have lined up for their Christmas Day matchup with the Green Bay Packers.
The Pope's Chicago sports collection grows
Robert Francis Prevost grew up in Chicago long before becoming the first American ever to hold the job, and his support for the city's sports scene has been front and centre during his tenure.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance handed him a Bears jersey right after the 2025 conclave selected him, and Bulls voice Chuck Swirsky followed with a No. 14 shirt reading "Pope Leo" last November.
He caught Game 1 of the 2005 World Series in person, and was then handed the actual final-out ball from that same series by A.J. Pierzynski just last month.
With Williams' latest gesture adding to his collection, whether the Vatican has anywhere to actually display it all is a separate question entirely.
