Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 06/21/17 #VaticanHuddle

Contact: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IS THE FIRST AMERICAN SPORTS ORGANIZATION TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE SEVEN GOLD JACKETS AMONG GROUP FROM HALL WHO MET POPE FRANCIS TODAY

CANTON, OHIO – Led by seven Gold Jackets – , , , , , and 2017 Enshrinee along with Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees Chairman Randy Hunt, and trip organizers Hall of Fame Board Member Stephen Schott and Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl A. Anderson, Pope Francis greeted and addressed this historic occasion at 8:57 a.m. local time at the Vatican today.

“I am pleased to greet you, the members and directors of the American Pro Football Hall of Fame and welcome you to the Vatican. Teamwork, fair play and the pursuit of personal excellence are the values — in the religious sense, we can say virtues that have guided your commitment, on and off the field” said the Pope, the first ever Pontiff from South America and the first ever Jesuit Pontiff. “These values meet the needs of our brothers and sisters and combat the exaggerated individualism, indifference and injustice that hold us back from living as one human family”.

His Holiness then personally greeted and blessed the Gold Jackets, their wives, Hall of Fame board members and their wives, Hall staff members, as well as dignitaries from the Knights of Columbus.

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

Hunt offered the Pontiff the Hall’s support of a worldwide conference on sports and invited His Holiness to attend the Centennial Celebration in Canton, Ohio on September 17, 2020.

Here are some of other reactions from Gold Jackets and others:

• “When you think about having peace in our lives, the Pope give us a great example of how important it is to live your live that way.” – Ronnie Lott

• “Meeting Pope Francis was one of those life changing moments, he showed us love peace and respect.” – Chris Doleman

• “A blessing for all of us I was thrilled, thank the Hall of Fame for giving us this moment.” – Floyd Little

• “This was a wonderful day, just to have an opportunity to shake his hand and to feel his presence in person was a blessing. He is the closest thing we know to Jesus walking the earth.” – Curtis Martin

• “What a magnificent thing for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and to have him recognize pro football. When I think of the millions who know our Spiritual leader, it is very special to think that we had his audience on behalf of the game.” – Jerry Jones

• “It has been a magical day; Pope Francis has blessed the entire NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.” – Gene Jones

The entire group then moved on to a viewing of the Sistine Chapel and will visit the American Embassy later today.

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ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the , the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.

Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport.

Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a $700 million development project that includes nine main components, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.

For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE