Gayle Benson, Saints and Pelicans owner, to visit Vatican with New Orleans clergy before heading to France to promote NFL’s 2026 Paris game.
NEW ORLEANS — Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson is heading to Europe for a weeklong trip that will include a stop at the Vatican to visit Pope Leo XIV, according to NOLA.com.
She’s expected to be in Rome on Monday, joined by New Orleans Archbishop James F. Checchio and former Archbishop Gregory Aymond for the Vatican visit.
After the Vatican stop, Benson will travel to France, where she will promote the NFL’s first regular-season game in the country, scheduled for the 2026 season. The game will be played in Paris as part of the league’s International Series, though details like the opponent and kickoff time have not been announced.
The visit comes as interest continues in whether Pope Leo XIV could one day visit New Orleans. The pope has family ties to the city, with relatives from the 7th Ward.
New Orleans has only had one Papal visit — back in 1987, when Pope John Paul II came to the city, NOLA.com reported.
Benson has made several trips to the Vatican and has also helped support restoration efforts at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.
After Rome, the trip continues in France, where Saints representatives are expected to take part in events tied to the upcoming game and the NFL’s international push.
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