“Pope Knows Ball”: New York Knicks fans find connection with new Pope Leo XIV — Can they continue to dominate Boston Celtics?

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new Pope, taking the title Pope Leo XIV. Interestingly, New York Knicks fans have found a surprising connection with the new Pope — one they believe is a good omen in the middle of the NBA playoffs. The No. 3 seed Knicks recently pulled off a thrilling 91–90 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.Fans unearthed an old tweet from Pope Leo XIV (then Cardinal Prevost), in which he expressed support for former Villanova University basketball stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Donte DiVincenzo — all of whom are either current or former Knicks players. The connection? Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova graduate himself.Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is the first American ever elected as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Born in Chicago, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. Back in 2016, he shared an article on X, highlighting the achievements of the Villanova basketball players — then college stars — who would go on to make their mark in the NBA, including DiVincenzo, who now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.As of the 2025 playoffs: Jalen Brunson wears No. 11 and plays as the Knicks’ point guard. Josh Hart, No. 3, is a shooting guard. Mikal Bridges, No. 25, plays both small forward and shooting guard. Donte DiVincenzo, now with the Timberwolves, wears No. 0 and plays as a shooting guard.After the old tweet resurfaced, fans reacted with excitement on X. One fan wrote, “Pope knows ball.” Another called the tweet “Holy.” A third user exclaimed, “Wow! That’s truly insane.” Another joked, “With the Pope's blessings, they might sweep the Celtics.” One more added, “Crazy. Nova Nation for real.”Also Read: Bold bet ends in painful reality: Paul Pierce walks 20 miles barefoot to work after Boston Celtics' shocking Game 2 loss vs. New York Knicks The Knicks now hold a 2–0 lead in the series. Game 3 is scheduled for May 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York, where the Knicks will face the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics once again. In Game 2, Mikal Bridges led a stunning fourth-quarter comeback, helping the Knicks make a 20-point comeback and claim a dramatic win.