Kentucky Wildcats Chaplain Stuns Faithful and players with Untold Pope Francis Stories: ‘We Lost a Spiritual Coach

As the world mourns Pope Francis, an unlikely voice has emerged from the heart of college basketball country: Father Mark Wohlschlag, longtime chaplain of the Kentucky Wildcats, is breaking his silence about his profound, decades-long friendship with the late pontiff—a bond that quietly shaped the program’s culture of service and unity.

“He Knew Every Player’s Hometown”

In an emotional press conference at Rupp Arena, Wohlschlag revealed that Pope Francis, an avid basketball fan, followed Wildcats games closely during his papacy. The pontiff reportedly requested annual updates on the team’s community outreach, particularly its “Hoops for Hope” camps for Appalachian youth. “He’d ask about specific players,” Wohlschlag said, choking up. “Not their stats, but their struggles. ‘Is Devin’s grandmother still ill?’ ‘Did Sahvir find that internship?’ He remembered *everything*.”

The connection began in 2014 when Wohlschlag, then a young priest, wrote to Francis about blending faith and sports mentorship. The Pope responded with a handwritten note: “A rebound for the soul is worth more than a trophy.” Their private correspondence continued for years, culminating in a 2019 Vatican meeting where Francis blessed a Wildcats jersey and urged players to “attack poverty like a full-court press.”

Wildcats to Retire “Jersey Number 266”

In an unprecedented move, Kentucky will honor Francis by hanging a white jersey with the number 266—his papal designation—in the rafters alongside program legends. Players will also wear warmup shirts reading “POPE’S PRESS” during their season opener, a nod to his beloved defensive mantra: “Pressure the brokenhearted. Steal joy for the hopeless.”

Head coach Mark Pope (no relation) fought tears recalling how the team used Francis’ teachings during the pandemic. “We had a sign in the locker room: ‘WHAT WOULD FRANCIS DO?’ It wasn’t about prayer. It was about grit. He taught these kids that screens aren’t just set on the court.”

Fans Flood Memorial Outside Cathedral

At Lexington’s Christ the King Church, a makeshift shrine of Wildcats memorabilia and papal candles grows by the hour. Senior guard Antonio Reeves left his game shoes with a note: “You passed me the ultimate assist—faith.” Meanwhile, Wohlschlag shared a leaked audio clip of Francis playfully ribbing him during a 2021 Zoom call: “Kentucky needs more free throws… and free clinics.”

The priest also disclosed plans for a Vatican-endorsed charity game this December, with proceeds funding mental health services in Eastern Kentucky. “His last email to me? ‘Tell Coach Pope I’ll handle the halftime sermon.’”

Why It Cuts Deep: In a state where basketball is religion, Francis’ death exposes a raw truth: sports’ highest purpose isn’t cutting nets—it’s mending hearts. The Pope didn’t just pray for the Wildcats. He *coached* them. And in Kentucky, that’s a legacy even John Calipari couldn’t recruit. ✞🏀