Spike Lee Gifts Pope Leo Knicks Jersey

The Pope's statement to the invited guests emphasized the importance of cinema in the emotional lives of viewers.

"When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges," He said. " It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we did not know we needed to express."

Spike Lee, Pope Leo and the New York Knicks

Lee is a lifelong super fan of the Knicks, and has long been a courtside staple at Madison Square Garden. Back in May, when the Papal Conclave came to an end and the "Chicago Pope" was appointed, Lee posted a celebration on Instagram, explaining his belief that this appointment meant that the Knicks were destined to win the 2025 NBA Championship. This did not come to pass, of course.

"The VATICAN Voted In ROBERT FRANCIS PREVOST As Their 267th PONTIFF," Lee wrote. "He Is The 1st P0PE From The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,Born In Chicago,Illinois. And For My NEW YAWK KNICKS FANS His Alma Mater Is VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY (BRUNSON,HART And BRIDGES Won NCAA Rings At VILLANOVA)What A HOLY BLESSING. THE KNICKERBOCKERS ARE G-NNA WIN THE 2024-2025 NBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. IT IS DIVINITY.GOD BLESS.And Dat’s Da HLY TRUTH,RUTH. YA-DIG❓SHO-NUFF"

Leo attended Villanova from 1973-1977, where he got his bachelor's degree in mathematics. The Nova Knicks — consisting of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges at the moment — all played together on the Villanova 2015-2016 team.

The Pope himself, on the other hand, appears to have an affinity for Chicago sports — particularly a loyalty to the Chicago Cubs.

Lee is perhaps best known in his Knicks fandom for his feud with Reggie Miller, as highlighted in the 30 for 30, "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks". He has collected a significant amount of Knicks memorabilia, including a net from the Knicks' first-ever NBA Championship win as a franchise, when Lee was 13, in 1970. Lee describes the win, which he witnessed in person, as one of his earliest and fondest memories. He purchased the net at auction in 2019.