St. John’s Student Shares Love of the Knicks With Pope Leo

A St. John’s University student has become an internet celebrity after a chance interaction with Pope Leo XIV over, all things, the New York Knicks.

Robby DeLasho, who recently completed his first year at The School of Education, was at Vatican City last week as the pope cruised through St. Peter’s Square blessing the faithful. Less than 25 feet from the pontiff, Robby shouted, “Pope Leo, go, Knicks!” 

The pope responded with a pair of thumbs-up, seemingly giving the Knicks his blessing.

The Knicks, in the National Basketball Association Finals for the first time since 1999 and bidding for their first championship since 1973, lead the San Antonio Spurs 1–0 in the best-of-seven series following Wednesday’s 105–95 win.

Three Knicks starters—Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart—played at Villanova University, from which Pope Leo, born Robert Prevost, received his bachelor’s degree in 1977.

“It was completely surreal,” Robby said from his Croton-on-Hudson, NY, home. “Just getting the pope’s attention and having him react with any gesture is insane to me. But when you consider it in the context of my favorite sport and team, it was a crazy moment.”

Robby, a Childhood Education major, was in Rome, Italy, as part of St. John’s seven-day Global Passport program. Along with classmates, he arrived at St. Peter’s Square on May 27 about an hour before Pope Leo’s customary blessing. Wearing a Knicks T-shirt and aware of the pope’s relationship with Villanova, Robby offered a rallying cry for the team and their Villanova players, never expecting an acknowledgment.

“I did not know how to react,” Robby admitted. “I was shaking, to be honest. I felt as if I made eye contact with him, but I cannot say if he was reacting to me. I would like to think so. When you couple my faith and the passion I have for the team, it made for a surreal moment.”

“As a Catholic, even if it was not a reaction to the Knicks, I made eye contact with the pope,” Robby added. “Wow.” 

Robby, 19, has since become a viral celebrity. A CBS News video of the interaction had 18,000 views over two days; he has been interviewed by NBC 4 New York and CBS News. Robby even received a shout-out from late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel during a discussion of Knicks enthusiasm in New York City.

“I saw my friends for the first time in a few weeks, and they said, ‘Do not go viral on us,’” Robby joked. “Already happened.”   

Robby flew home on Wednesday, June 3, arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport a few minutes before the end of Game 1. The first thing he did after landing was watch the game on his phone. “As soon as I had service,” he said.

Robby cannot say if Pope Leo truly gave the Knicks his blessing. But he will gladly accept any help—earthly or divine—that delivers his team three more wins and a championship. “The job is not finished,” Robby said. “But Pope Leo could be the Knicks’ good-luck charm.”    

Watch a video of Robby’s interaction with Pope Leo XIV.