NC leader gifts Pope Leo a custom Canes jersey during a Vatican visit. Here’s why
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Luke Farley presented Pope Leo XIV a custom Hurricanes championship jersey.
- The jersey bore the Stanley Cup badge, "Pope Leo" on the back, and No. 14.
- Pope Leo was presented with the Order of the Tar Heel for workers rights advocacy.
Fans swarmed to local retailers to buy Carolina Hurricanes gear after the NHL team won the Stanley Cup in June. One particular individual had merchandise hand-delivered … to the Vatican.
North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Luke Farley presented Pope Leo XIV with a custom championship jersey on June 24 during a visit to Vatican City. The jersey included the exclusive Stanley Cup badge and “Pope Leo” on the back. The No. 14 was a nod to him being the 14th pontiff to choose the name Leo. His birth name is Robert Francis Prevost.
“We were proud to bring the Stanley Cup home to Raleigh and are thrilled that Commissioner Farley had a chance to share a piece of North Carolina with Pope Leo by presenting him with a personalized Hurricanes jersey just a week after winning the Cup,” Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork said in a statement.
Pope Leo honored with Order of the Tar Heel
During the visit, Farley also presented Pope Leo with the Order of the Tar Heel, the highest honor from the Department of Labor. The award is given to people who make positive impacts on North Carolina through leadership, service, efforts to strengthen the state and workforce.
“It was an honor to meet with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, where I had the privilege of presenting him with the Order of the Tar Heel as a symbol of North Carolina’s gratitude for his lifelong example of service, faith, and leadership,” Farley said in a statement. “North Carolina is proud to celebrate the Carolina Hurricanes for bringing the Stanley Cup home, and it was a special honor to present Pope Leo with a Hurricanes championship jersey commemorating this historic achievement.”
Pope Leo received the recognition, according to Farley’s office, for not only being the first American pope but his work to advocate for workers. The Pontifex has emphasized artificial intelligence should not be used to replace human work. At 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, a post from Pope Leo’s X account stated the importance of using technology for growth, justice and fraternity instead of turning people into commodities.
Though Farley was acting in an official capacity as the labor commissioner, Farley was on a personal trip and no taxpayer funding was used, a Department of Labor spokesperson told the News & Observer.
“Proud to have once again represented our state abroad and shared the good things going on in North Carolina,” Farley said on social media. “Truly one of the most special moments of my life and a blessing to share it with my son.”
Why a Carolina Hurricanes jersey?
But why the Canes jersey? Pope Leo, who was appointed after the death of Pope Francis, has gone viral multiple times for his love of sports.
Originally from Chicago, Pope Leo is an avid White Sox fan. He wore a White Sox ball cap at the Vatican and has received plenty of memorabilia to honor his lifelong fandom. The White Sox plan to hold another “pope hat giveaway” in August due to high demand after a previous promotion.
The pope also graduated from Villanova — understandably, still a sore spot for North Carolina men’s basketball fans — and will host his alma mater in Rome this year. Villanova and Notre Dame will play a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Nov. 1 in the “Eternal City Tip-off,” which was inspired by Pope Leo’s appointment.
This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 2:07 PM.
