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LOOK: Pope Francis receives a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey

On3 imageby: Tyler Thompson05/03/24MrsTylerKSR
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey - Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey - Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko

Blue got into Vatican City, and, as a result, Kentucky may have a very important new fan.

Father Jim Sichko, a priest of the Diocese of Lexington, was in Vatican City for meetings and presented Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey. Although Pope wore the No. 41 during his playing days, the jersey has the No. 23 on it, which honors him becoming the 23rd men’s basketball coach at Kentucky.

“He loved it,” Sichko told KSR of Pope Francis’ reaction to the gift.

Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey - Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey – Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey – Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey - Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a Mark Pope Kentucky jersey – Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko

Sichko told KSR that Pope Francis remembered him from past encounters and the two talked about bourbon, horses, and of course, Kentucky Basketball and Football. Speaking of football, Sichko gave a big shoutout to Mark Stoops’ staff for helping him get a Kentucky Mark Pope jersey to present to his Holiness.

“I had no way of getting in touch with Coach Pope,” Sichko said. “It’s beautiful that both teams work together.”

The jersey wasn’t the only item Sichko presented to Pope Francis. Check out the bottle of Willett bourbon that now bears Francis’ signature.

Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a bottle of Willett Bourbon - Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
Father Jim Sichko presents Pope Francis with a bottle of Willett Bourbon – Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
A bottle of Willett bourbon signed by Pope Francis - Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko
A bottle of Willett bourbon signed by Pope Francis – Photo courtesy of Jim Sichko

Maybe Pope Francis will send Sichko home with a real pope hat for our Pope?

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2025-08-02