College football icon Lou Holtz issued a heartfelt message to Catholics worldwide as Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, urging believers to support and pray for the new pontiff regardless of personal opinions.
“I’m an old man, I’ve been Catholic all my life,” Holtz said. “I was taught about how the pope would be selected. The white smoke, the black smoke, et cetera. But you never know about the pope, because he isn’t infallible. He’s infallible when everything comes to religious decisions, and we’re taught to respect him and pray for him and listen to him.”
Holtz, who once served as an altar boy, called on Catholics to embrace the new pope’s leadership, saying, “We must defend him, we must encourage him, we must pray for him, and we must help him.”
The legendary coach also spoke candidly about the need for greater commitment to the church, pointing to a decline in financial support as possibly tied to disagreements with past papal decisions. “Whether you like the pope or not is irrelevant,” he said. “He’s our pope. You must respect him, pray for him, and care about him.”
Holtz concluded his remarks by sharing his personal experiences with past popes and reaffirming his dedication to Pope Leo XIV. “Let’s make sure that we pray for the pope, follow his blessings and teachings,” he said. “I promise you, I will pray for the pope because I know the pope’s also going to pray for me and pray for the choices he makes in the best interest of this country.”
The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has sparked both curiosity and speculation. His brother, Louis Prevost, rejected claims that Pope Leo would be a “woke” figure, describing him instead as balanced and thoughtful.
“He’s not left, he’s not right, he looks at the whole scene, takes information from both sides, and somehow finds a way to go down the middle,” Louis Prevost told Piers Morgan.
He also addressed Pope Leo’s past criticism of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration issues, saying the new pope may not agree with the methods but still values law and order: “You still have to follow the rules of the law.”