Who dat, Holy Father!

The last time Gayle Benson met a pope, she and her husband Tom were in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience in 2011, where a friendly “battle of rings” broke out.

That papal audience in May 2011 was a little more than a year after the New Orleans Saints had defeated the Baltimore Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV. After the Bensons were escorted to the front to greet Pope Benedict, Tom extended his right hand, adorned with the Saints’ Everest-sized Super Bowl ring.

Benedict pressed his right hand forward to show Tom the gold fisherman’s ring worn by the successor of Peter.

“Tom showed Pope Benedict his ring, and Benedict showed Tom his ring, and it was kind of like a fist bump,” Gayle Benson recalled, laughing.

Saints’ No. 1 jersey

When Gayle returned to Rome earlier this month as a member of The Papal Foundation, which raises millions for the pope’s global charitable initiatives, she didn’t come empty-handed.

At the end of a private audience with Pope Francis for the 100 Papal Foundation members, Benson was escorted to the pope’s chair by Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Instead of a ring, she held up a white, No. 1 Saints’ jersey emblazoned with the name, “PAPA FRANCESCO.”

Different ‘foot’ball

The Argentine-born pontiff is a huge soccer fan.

“He may have thought it was a soccer jersey,” Benson said. “He was very nice. He was grateful for the jersey and acted like he really liked it. He thought it was funny. I wanted to bring some memories from New Orleans so he would know who we were – that we were from New Orleans, and we were the New Orleans Saints.”

Benson, who owns the Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans, said she was thrilled to be a participating member of The Papal Foundation because of the good work it accomplishes across the world. Members agree to donate at least $1 million to the foundation, and those funds are used at the pope’s discretion to alleviate hunger and for other humanitarian and educational efforts.

While she was in Rome from April 9-13, Benson and the other foundation members attended Mass at several of Rome’s landmark churches: St. Peter’s Basilica, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Santa Maria degli Angeli and St. John Lateran.

They also were treated to a scavi tour at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the bones of St. Peter reside, and got a special tour of the Vatican museums.

Since its inception in 1988, The Papal Foundation and its Stewards of St. Peter have awarded more than $225 million in grants and scholarships around the world to more than 2,300 projects selected by Popes John Paul II, Benedict and Francis.

Another personal visit

This was the third pope Benson has met. In 1987 – although she did not have a personal audience – Benson was among the thousands who got soaked before Pope John Paul II’s outdoor Mass on the lakefront at the University of New Orleans.

“I got wet, but it was all good,” said Benson, who later met John Paul II in Rome.

Benson said she feels blessed to have personally met the three men who have served as pontiff since 1978.

“It’s always very special to be around a man so special and so religious and so close to God,” she said. “Pope Francis was very animated. He walks with a cane, but there were over 100 people in the room, and he greeted every single person. He was happy to see everyone, and he didn’t look tired. When he walked in the room, he was smiling and waving, very jovial and happy to see everybody.”

Benson also met fellow Papal Foundation member Eduardo Verastegui, producer of the faith-based movies “Cabrini” and “Bella.” 

“He started telling me about all these religious movies that he’s making,” Benson said. “What an interesting young man.”

Benson said the six-hour time difference did not limit her ability to follow the Pelicans’ postseason games. She was saddened to hear about Zion Williamson’s hamstring injury late in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers when the star was playing the best basketball of his young career.

“I feel so bad because he has been playing with all his heart – the whole team is,” Benson said. “After every game, I text (coach) Willie (Green) and give him some words of encouragement, whether they win or lose. I hug every one of those players after the games, win or lose.”

Benson said she also has been able to use her high profile as a Catholic business leader and Papal Foundation member to raise awareness of the long-term needs of St. Louis Cathedral, which she wants to ensure is kept in pristine condition with a standing endowment for care.

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