The election of the primary ever American to the papacy is giving New York Knicks followers emotions of divine proper forward of the remainder of the NBA playoffs.
On Thursday afternoon, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected by his federal cardinals to turn into the brand new head of the Catholic Church – taking the identify Pope Leo XIV.
However lengthy earlier than he roamed the halls of the Sistine Chapel, Prevost might have rejoiced within the equally hallowed partitions of the Palestra as a pupil at Villanova College off the Major Line exterior of Philadelphia.
Villanova, which is thought for its basketball program, has produced a number of NBA gamers – together with a trio of stars on the New York Knicks.
Level guard Jalen Brunson, capturing guard Josh Hart, and ahead Mikal Bridges all have been Villanova Wildcats – profitable a nationwide title collectively in 2016.
Prevost, who was a bishop in Peru on the time, celebrated his alma mater profitable the nationwide title on social media by way of a re-tweet.
Pope Leo XIV, start identify Robert Prevost, attended Villanova College in Pennsylvania
So did New York Knicks stars Josh Hart (3), Jalen Brunson (11) and Mikal Bridges (25)
Prevost re-tweeted a celebration of Villanova’s 2016 title – when all 3 gamers have been on the workforce
Now, Knicks followers and sports activities writers imagine the workforce has the facility of God on their facet
However now, with Brunson, Hart, and Bridges all on the Knicks, followers of the basketball workforce imagine they could have God on their facet.
‘The Pope is a Villanova man. Knicks would possibly simply win the entire thing,’ wrote Knicks fan and legendary sports activities author Frank Isola on X.
One other Knicks account posted, ‘The brand new Pope, Leo XIV, is a Villanova graduate. It is meant to be.’
‘The brand new pope went to Villanova! This completely explains what’s taking place with the Knicks,’ posted NBC Sports activities’ school basketball insider Nicole Auerbach.
Even Knicks super-fan Spike Lee received in on the motion, posting to Instagram, ‘And for my NEW YAWK KNICKS FANS His Alma Mater Is VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY… What A HOLY BLESSING. THE KNICKER BOCKERS ARE GONNA WIN THE 2024-[2025] NBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. IT IS DIVINITY. GOD BLESS.’
Prevost graduated Villanova in 1977 – two years earlier than the Wildcats made the transfer to the Large East Convention.
Former Villanova basketball coach Jay Wright posted, ‘A blessing for all People, @osavocations [the X account for the Augustinain Friars] @VillanovaU, most significantly within the World!’
Additional strengthening his connection to the Large East, Prevost’s mom attended DePaul College in Chicago – one other member of the celebrated basketball convention.
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