More sacred than ever: Bap gifts Pope a Flamengo shirt | OneFootball

Pope Leo XIV Blessed Personalized Flamengo Jersey Given by the Club President

The year 2026 for Flamengo is set to be as special as the previous one. This is because, on Thursday (15th), President Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, gifted Pope Leo XIV a personalized team jersey, which was blessed by the pontiff.

“In a meeting with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, President Luiz Eduardo Baptista presented the Pontiff with the personalized Sacred Mantle of Flamengo. A symbolic gesture that brings the history, faith, and passion of the red-black team to one of the most emblematic places in the world,” celebrated Flamengo on social media.

See the post:

See this photo on Instagram A post shared by Flamengo (@flamengo)

What is the Personalization of the Sacred Mantle Given to the Pope?

In the image, Bap and the Holy Father hold the Mantle with the words: “Leo XIV.” Thus, the religious leader blessed the colors of Flamengo. The uniform model is from the 2025 collection, as the 2026 uniform has not yet debuted.

Is This the First Time a Pope Receives the Sacred Mantle?

From one entity to another. In 2013, during a visit to Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis, a fan of San Lorenzo, received a personalized Flamengo jersey from Zico. That year, the Red-Black team won the Copa do Brasil.

In June 2008, the then president of Flamengo, Márcio Braga, personally delivered a personalized jersey with the name “Bento” and the number 16 to Pope Benedict XVI, in St. Peter's Square.

Does Pope Leo Have a Team?

A Flamengo fan since receiving the Sacred Mantle, Pope Leo shows more affinity with baseball than with soccer. Thus, the Chicago White Sox holds a special place in the Pontiff's heart.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.