Father Marc Lyden-Smith took a custom Sunderland shirt to the Vatican and handed it to Pope Leo before the club's European return. The jersey was red and white, with "Pope Leo, 14" on the back, and Lyden-Smith said the pontiff promised to pray for the team as they started their campaign.
The Vatican handover
Lyden-Smith said he presented the shirt during the visit and joked that every pope deserves a Sunderland strip. He also said Pope Leo was "very nice" and that it was good to speak in English with him.
The chaplain has done this before. He said he also gave Pope Francis a shirt in 2013, and added that he had accidentally got this one a size too small.
Sunderland's first European game in 53 years
The timing makes the story land. Lyden-Smith said Wednesday night's match against AZ Alkmaar is Sunderland's first European game in 53 years, which gives a small Vatican gift a bigger place in the club's week.
He also said Pope Leo did say he would be praying for Sunderland as they began their European campaign. That is the sort of line clubs usually keep for posters and social media, but here it came from a chaplain's trip to the Vatican.
Sunderland's European return has already produced one proper football story before a ball is kicked. The shirt was delivered, the prayer was promised, and the wait now runs to Wednesday night against AZ Alkmaar as Sunderland step back into Europe after 53 years.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
