‘Go Knights Go!’ Las Vegas showman takes jersey to the Pope

The pope now plays into the Golden Knights’ playoff run.

The team’s in-arena announcer and ubiquitous Las Vegas hype man Mark Shunock toted a gold VGK jersey to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Wednesday. Shunock then raised the piece as Pope Leo arrived to preside over public mass.

The official game jersey featured “POPE LEO” and No. 14 on the back. The pontiff is the 14th Pope Leo.

Shunock is in the country for Friday’s “WWE Smackdown” in Bologna, in his Mark Nash-announcer mode. In his monumental effort at the Vatican, Shunock pushed his way to the front of the crowd at St. Peter’s Square. His wife and fellow stage performer Cheryl Daro captured the video.

The former Lonny character in “Rock of Ages” in Las Vegas then held up the jersey, as the “Popemobile” inched past. Shunock shook the jersey, catching the Pope’s attention. The pontiff grinned, then gestured with his left hand, seeming to ask Shunock to hand him the item.

Shunock, who operates The Space entertainment venue off the Strip, is convinced that was what happened.

“He laughed and asked for it,” Shunock said in a text. “Insane.”

The Popemobile did not stop, sadly preventing an even more epic moment.

As the pope moved past, Shunock shouted, “Go Knights go!” and high-fived fellow mass celebrants.

Pope Leo is from Chicago and known to be a White Sox fan. It has not been confirmed that he is a fan of the Blackhawks or any NHL team.

No matter. The Golden Knights have arrived in the Vatican. On his IG post of the event, Shunock commented, “When in Rome … I’ve always wanted to use this hashtag, this seems an appropriate time. #Blessed”

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykatson X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.