Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz has a message for Catholics around the world: support Pope Leo XIV. Holtz, who has been a devout Catholic throughout his life, shared his thoughts on the new papacy, emphasizing the importance of prayer and unity during this transition.

Holtz, who proudly recalls his years as an altar boy, stressed that being Catholic means respecting and praying for the Pope, regardless of personal opinions. “I’m an old man; I’ve been Catholic all my life. I was taught about how the pope would be selected. The white smoke, the black smoke, et cetera,” Holtz reflected. “But you never know about the pope because he isn’t infallible. He’s infallible when everything comes to religious decisions, and we’re taught to respect him and pray for him and listen to him.”

I’ve been Catholic all my life.

I remember learning about how the Pope is chosen—white smoke, black smoke, the whole thing.

You don’t have to agree with everything he says, but we’re called to pray for him, respect him & support him.

Pope Leo, I’ll be praying for you. God… pic.twitter.com/wxj0nGJRGA

— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) May 14, 2025

Despite acknowledging that not every papal decision will be universally embraced, Holtz insisted on the fundamental duty of Catholics to stand by their leader. “Whether you like the pope or not is irrelevant. He’s our pope. You must respect him, pray for him, and care about him,” Holtz declared.

Holtz also addressed the broader issue of support for the Church itself, noting that financial contributions have waned in recent years. He believes that part of this trend may stem from disagreements with past papal decisions. “The church has financial obligations like anything else. It’s important for us to support the pope regardless of who he is, whether we like him or not,” Holtz explained.

In a world where opinions often clash, Holtz’s message was clear: Catholics must pray for Pope Leo XIV and seek to encourage rather than criticize. “Good luck to you, and I promise you, I will pray for the pope because I know the pope’s also going to pray for me and pray for the choices he makes in the best interest of this country,” he affirmed.

The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, as the first American pope has sparked curiosity and debate. While some fear he may lean toward more progressive views, his brother, Louis Prevost, has pushed back against claims that Leo XIV would be a “woke” successor to Pope Francis.

“He wasn’t, like, super political,” Louis Prevost told Piers Morgan on “Uncensored.” “He’s not left, he’s not right; he looks at the whole scene, takes information from both sides, and somehow finds a way to go down the middle and not ruffle too many feathers.”

One area of potential controversy is Pope Leo’s past criticism of former President Donald Trump’s handling of the migrant crisis. Despite this, Holtz, a staunch Trump supporter, remains committed to praying for and supporting the new pope.

Lou Holtz, known for his illustrious coaching career—most notably his 11 years at Notre Dame—continues to influence not just the world of sports but also the faith community. His call for Catholics to pray, encourage, and support Pope Leo XIV reminds us that faith transcends personal preferences and urges unity during this new chapter for the Catholic Church.