Pope Francis gifted bottle of bourbon signed by Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops
If the University of Kentucky football team makes history by making the Southeastern Conference championship game this fall, perhaps some “thank yous” could be directed toward Vatican City.
Father Jim Sichko, a missionary of mercy commissioned by Pope Francis and priest with the Diocese of Lexington, earlier this week was in Rome. Sichko during his papal visits usually brings bourbon as a gift. He brought two bottles this week: a personalized bottle of Bulleit Bourbon he gave in a private setting and a bottle of Wm. Tarr signed by UK football coach Mark Stoops, which was presented during a public forum.
“(Stoops) had signed the bottle for me the night before I was leaving for Rome,” Sichko said in a phone interview with the Herald-Leader. “I looked at him and said, ‘Why sign it to me? Put it to Pope Francis and I’ll give it to him.’ He looked at me like I wasn’t really going to do that. I said, ‘Coach, I’m going to give it to him, and now watch how far you go. You’ll go all the way this year.’ He laughed and laughed.”
Stoops’ team isn’t projected to be a championship contender, but it seems to be garnering more respect than usual after coming off its second 10-win season in the last four years. The Wildcats are ranked in just about every “too early” preseason top 25 list, and quarterback Will Levis is projected as a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As for the bourbon, Sichko said he has “no doubt” it will be consumed.
“He shares them with guests and other people,” Sichko said. “They’re quite aware when I come, because it’s like, ‘Which bourbon is he going to pull out today?’”
Sichko is frequently in the news for “random acts of kindness.” He is one of 100 missionaries of mercy in the United States, and one of only 1,000 in the world.
This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 10:30 AM.
