Talk about an unexpected twist—Melissa Hutchinson, sister of Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson, had the perfect reaction to one of the most surprising headlines of the month: the newly elected Pope Leo XIV has ties to Michigan.
The former Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was named the first-ever American pope after the passing of Pope Francis. While his roots stretch from New Orleans to Chicago, the revelation that he also has connections to Michigan left a lot of people—Melissa included—completely floored.
Taking to Instagram, Melissa shared a meme of the new pope donning a Detroit Lions hat with the caption:
“This>>>> American pope from Chicago with Michigan ties wearing a Lions hat in a meme… was definitely not on the bingo card this month. But I’m here for it.”
Fans of both the Church and the Lions couldn’t get enough of the unexpected crossover.
Meanwhile, Aidan Hutchinson is getting ready for another big year with the Lions. The defensive end, drafted second overall in 2022, continues to be a key part of Detroit’s defense. Despite a strong 15-2 regular season record last year and topping the NFC North, the Lions fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
In other Lions news, GM Brad Holmes recently delivered the commencement speech at North Carolina A&T State, inspiring graduates with powerful words rooted in the poem “Choose Your Hard.” Holmes, a former Rams scout and A&T alum, emphasized resilience and facing life’s challenges head-on—words that resonate both on and off the field.
As Lions fans look ahead to the 2025 season, it seems even the Vatican can’t help but get pulled into the hype—at least in meme form.
“Did Not See That Coming!”: Aidan Hutchinson’s Sister Reacts to American Pope’s Michigan Connection
