Chicago native Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the next pope on Thursday, becoming the first-ever American to do so.
For the occasion, one Steelers fan brought their own flavor to the Vatican.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Terrible Towel appeared outside St. Peter’s Basilica after Pope Leo XIV’s election.
CBS immediately noted the signature sign of Steelers fandom that stood out among the crowd after the historic day in Vatican City.
“Here was a woman from Pittsburgh who had the Terrible Towel, the yellow towel they wave at football games, she held that up and wanted a picture,” CBS’ Tony Dokoupil said on the air.
Throughout the broadcast, the Terrible Towel could be seen. At times, the fan would simply hold the towel up, but in others, they proudly swing the towel above their head, just like they would at Acrisure Stadium on a normal Sunday.
The Terrible Towel is the symbol of Steelers fandom that has existed since Myron Cope, then the Steelers color broadcaster, created the towel to represent the fandom in 1975.
It has become the iconic symbol of Steelers fans, with fans traveling worldwide to take pictures with the towel. The Vatican is just the latest place for the towel to show up.