Peyton Manning reveals bold plan to bring Chicago Bears fan Pope Leo XIV on his ESPN show

The Chicago Bears played their first game of the 2025 season at home on Monday Night Football. It also happened to be their first game since a native son was elected Pope.

Pope Leo XIV was likely sleeping in Rome when the Bears had kicked off at Soldier Field at 7:30pm Central time on Monday against the Minnesota Vikings.

But despite the seven-hour time difference, former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning did his best to try and get His Holiness on the 'Manningcast'.

In the third quarter of the game, Manning - a two-time Super Bowl champion - revealed to his brother, Eli, that his attempts to book the Pope were in vain.

'Kind of like when I failed to recruit Randy Moss to [the University of] Tennessee, I couldn't close the Pope,' Manning said, hearkening back to his college days.

'But I made the effort, Eli. And that's the kind of effort we make here at ESPN2.' 

'I tried my hardest… Look at these two hand-written letters I wrote. I wrote his Holiness, himself and I wrote his executive assistant… I made the effort… and if you're watching your holiness, this is an open invitation come on the show anytime.'

The broadcast then flashed two letters on the broadcast that Manning penned.

In addition to the Pope, Manning says that other guests wanted by his viewers included Tiger Woods, Bradley Cooper, President George Bush, and Larry David.

'Y'all are on our most wanted on that list for the 'MannningCast' come anytime, we'd love to have you, your Holiness,' Peyton said.

With the Pope otherwise occupied, the show featured other guests: actor Bill Murray, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, and the aforementioned Moss. 

The Bears weren't able to pull out a victory as the Vikings furiously rallied in the fourth quarter to win 27-24.