Pope Leo XIV on Manningcast? Peyton Manning is trying to make it happen
The Manning brothers had their first MNF broadcast this week and now they’re hoping to secure a high-profile guest who isn’t easy to lock down.
Peyton and Eli Manning made their Manningcast debut in Week 1 of the NFL season on Monday for the Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears game. As always, this season sees the Manning brothers bring on a slate of high-profile guests.
In Week 1, they hosted Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss, and Bears superfan, actor Bill Murray. Some of the most notable guests they have had on the show include Adam Sandler, Snoop Dogg, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Barack Obama, and Kevin Hart.
Actor and Bears superfan Bill Murray joined Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli 🔥😂 pic.twitter.com/X7Br55YafT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 9, 2025
But there’s one guest on their “most-wanted” list who they haven’t been able to lock down.
Peyton Manning invites Pope Leo XIV to Manningcast with handwritten letter
During Monday night’s broadcast, Peyton revealed that he attempted to get Pope Leo XIV to come on the show. Pope Leo is from Chicago and is a known fan of the Bears. Vice President JD Vance gifted him a personalized Bears jersey and some fans also gifted him a t-shirt with the words “Da Pope” written on it. Unfortunately, Pope Leo isn’t an easy guest to secure and Peyton was unsuccessful in his attempt to get him for Week 1’s Bears game.
“You tried to book a big-time fourth guest,” Eli said to Peyton. “Is it true that you failed to book Chicago native, Pope Leo XIV?”
“Yeah, kind of like I failed to recruit Randy Moss to Tennessee,” Peyton replied. “I couldn’t close the pope.”
Peyton Manning handwrote a letter to Pope Leo XIV, hoping to get him on the Manningcast.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 9, 2025
"Come on the show anytime. It's you, it's Tiger Woods, it's Bradley Cooper, it's President Bush, it's Larry David...We'd love to have you, Your Holiness."pic.twitter.com/ElC44EJKkG
“But I made the effort, Eli, and that’s the kind of effort we make here at ESPN2.” He then showed the two handwritten letters he sent - one directly to the pope himself and one to his executive assistant.
“If you’re watching, your holiness, this is an open invitation,” Peyton said. “Come on the show anytime.”
Peyton went on to say that Pope Leo was among one of the most-asked-for guests, along with Tiger Woods, former President George W. Bush,Bradley Cooper, and Larry David.
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