Pope Francis presented with Mark Pope Kentucky jersey by Lexington priest
There wasn’t any white smoke, but the arrival of Mark Pope as the new Kentucky head coach was met with a similar fervor by Wildcat fans as the elevation of a new pope is by Catholics around the world. And now, there’s been a crossover.
Pope Francis, meet Pope, Mark. Or at least a jersey.
His Holiness was presented a gleaming No. 23 Kentucky jersey — Pope played on the for the Wildcats in the 1990s, but wore No. 41 — adorned with “Pope” on the back. The gift was presented by Father Jim Sichko, from the Archdiocese of Lexington.
Sichko spoke with On3’s KSR, sharing more on his brief interaction with Pope Francis and that the two discussed Kentucky hoops and football. Sichko said that it was the Kentucky football program that helped him procure a Kentucky basketball jersey bearing “Pope” on the back.
“I had no way of getting in touch with Coach Pope,” Sichko said to KSR. “It’s beautiful that both teams work together.”
And of the jersey itself, Sichko said it was well received.
“He loved it,” Sichko said. He also got His Holiness to sign a bottle of Willett bourbon.
It’s not Sichko’s first interaction with Pope Francis, either.
Sichko, in 2015, was appointed a missionary of mercy by the Pope, according to Sichko’s website.
“Since his appointment, Fr. Jim has made it his life’s mission to bring God’s love to all people—no matter where they are on life’s journey,” a section of the website reads.
If Pope Francis wants to come watch Kentucky hoops, he could land some nice real estate
For anyone living in Kentucky who wants to live the life of former Wildcats head coach John Calipari, now it’s a possibility. At least, it’s possible to live in his former home.
Calipari has listed his house in Lexington for sale as he moves to Arkansas to take over the Razorbacks program. It’s on Zillow and is currently listed at just under $4 million. KSR’s Matt Jones found the listing and posted it to social media.
The house Calipari is selling itself has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. It’s also listed at 9,615 square feet. The entire lot is 1.24 acres in size. It’s also still a relatively new home, having been built in 2005. At the listing price, it has an estimated monthly cost of $25,555.
The listing for Calipari’s house on Zillow describes what’s special about the home.
“Iconic design and stature; this Ashland Park estate is now available for sale. Situated on 1.2 acres in the heart of Lexington, this home and pool house exude tradition and style. Through the gated driveway, enter the grand foyer with a staircase, flanked by formal living and formal dining rooms,” the listing reads. “Continue to an open concept great room with 2-story stone fireplace and chef’s kitchen with a large island. Step out to the 4-seasons room to overlook the grounds, which include a pool, half court basketball court, pool house and 3-car garage. This home is perfect for entertaining!”
It’s pretty hard to argue that it’s anything but a beautiful home. There’s plenty of well-maintained outdoor space and natural light in the home. On top of that, it’s full of intricate details around fireplaces and banisters throughout the home. There are also hardwood floors throughout the home, high ceilings, and plenty of open space.