The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the preeminent organizations in the NFL, with six Super Bowl championships to their name, nearly a century of football in its past, and numerous legends.
The team’s consistency is unmatched. They’ve had three head coaches in over 50 years and haven’t posted a losing season since 2003.
As a result, Pittsburgh isn’t just an iconic sports franchise. It’s an international brand, so when there’s news outside of the United States, there’s a non-zero chance that a fan is somehow involved.
The latest rendition of this phenomenon came on Thursday, when Steelers fans were represented at Pope Leo XIV’s initial appearance by way of the Terrible Towel.
CBS News’ Tony Dokoupil reported that a Terrible Towel made its way to Vatican City.
“There are also items that people want blessed,” Dokoupil said. “There was even a woman from Pittsburgh who had, if you’re a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, the Terrible Towel, the yellow towel they wave at football games. She held that up and wanted a picture.”
The Terrible Towel, of course, is a staple of Steelers fandom. The yellow garment, waved by thousands every fall Sunday, is as Pittsburgh as Pittsburgh gets. It isn’t stuck to Acrisure Stadium, either. Fans have flaunted it while the Pittsburgh Pirates pretend to put a competitive team together and when the Pittsburgh Penguins host playoff games. It’s a way to claim Western Pennsylvania pride where a fan may reside.
Pope Leo XIV, originally Cardinal Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago and is a noted Chicago White Sox fan. It isn’t confirmed whether he’s a Chicago Bears fan, but it is worth noting that he spent time in Pennsylvania, having graduated from Villanova.
The Pope was considered to be a shocking selection by many, especially given the quick turnaround of the conclave, suggesting a favorite had won easily. Prevost is the first American pope in the church’s history, and will play a significant role in global politics as the leader of the Catholic church.
Among the thousands of people in the Vatican City crowd, at least one holds the Steelers close to their heart. Perhaps his blessing will grant them good fortune as they head into 2025.
