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Pope Leo XIV: A Baseball Signed for the Curator Plus Many Other Items That Follow

Pope Leo XIV: A Baseball Signed for the Curator Plus Many Other Items That Follow

Pope Leo Signing the Baseball & Vatican Unveiled Program for Fr. Kunst

Father Richard Kunst

In October of 2025 I had the opportunity to greet Pope Leo after a Wednesday audience, and I brought a baseball that I had hoped he would sign for me like Pope Francis did a decade earlier.  Unfortunately the Holy Father turned down the request. 

Fast Forward to early January of 2026 while we were setting up for The Vatican Unveiled at the Mall of America the very ball Pope Francis signed for me in 2015 was stolen due to scaled back security by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.  Needless to say I was a bit crushed as the signed ball came as a result of my lone interaction with Pope Francis, and now it was gone.

On the first day that the exhibit was open to the public I met Pastor John and Polly Snider. Their friendship truly became the biggest blessing from the entire Vatican Unveiled event. 

I helped organize many of the details surrounding their May trip to Rome to visit their old friend, Bob (Pope Leo XIV), and unbeknownst to me they brought a baseball they intended to ask him to sign for me.  And he did, as can be seen in this picture!  Only after the pope signed it did they tell me of their plans. 

Needless to say I was beyond excited and beyond grateful to my two dear friends for being so thoughtful.  They also asked the Holy Father to sign one of the booklets from the Vatican Unveiled, which he graciously did.

I want to thank the Sniders for being so thoughtful and gracious in asking their friend of almost 50 years to sign a baseball for their friend, the priest!

A Very Gracious Pope Leo XIV Signed a Baseball for the Curator
Earlier Information from the Vatican Unveiled Staff

We’ve never told this story publicly — until now.

Before our most recent Vatican Unveiled Exhibit even opened its doors at Mall of America in January 2026, a very special baseball was stolen from Fr. Richard Kunst, our curator. It was a baseball signed by Pope Francis — a personal gift — and it was gone before a single visitor ever walked through the exhibit.

We kept it out of the media, but our team was deflated. But, the exhibit had to go on, and it did — beautifully.

Here’s where the story gets even better:

During Vatican Unveiled, a couple came to the exhibit — John and Polly Snider, close friends of the man who would become Pope Leo.

Fr. Rich connected with them, and that friendship didn’t end when the exhibit closed.

Today, John and Polly spent a few hours with Pope Leo himself. And our new American pope — the one with our Vatican Unveiled book sitting right in front of him — signed a baseball for Fr. Kunst!

We didn’t know John and Polly were doing this for us, and when the text came through after Mass, it was quite the surprise.

We are so thankful for this friendship!!

>> A stolen baseball.

>> A friendship born at Mall of America.

>> A pope who knows the whole story.

Some things are worth the wait.

Any time there is a special occasion at the Vatican, a booklet is produced to commemorate the occasion that acts as a liturgical aid for participants. They are glossy pages and in various languages. Everyone gets a copy of these booklets.

Father Kunst has dozens of these. He has one from the beatification of Mother Teresa, the canonization of Jose Maria Escreva, the 25th anniversary of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, the election of Pope Benedict XVI, the Conclaves, and the funeral of Pope John Paul II. These are significant. He has collected and been given many of them, but the most significant are the ones mentioned, particularly the Mass booklet from the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

It is a great addition to have our most recent pope–and an American–added to this Collection of memorabilia.

Pope Leo XIV: Consistory Elevating Him to the Cardinalate

The Consistory Elevating Robert Prevost to the Cardinalate
Advance to the 33:30 minute mark to view.

A Picture Is Worth a 1000 Words
The Curator Meets Pope Leo XIV to Present a Gift & a Request
October 28, 2025

While on pilgrimage to Rome with a small group, Father Kunst was fortunate to meet Pope Leo. He brought with him a copy of The Papacy, A Living History (featured below–a 6 part EWTN series of Father’s Collection) to present to the Pope, and the baseball he hoped (unsuccessfully!) the Pope would sign!

The photos, captured by the Vatican News Service aptly convey the expressions of both men in this encounter. We are blessed to share them with you!

The Papacy, A Living History

Pope Leo XIV: A Letter Written to Friends Early in His Priesthood

Father Richard Kunst

“This is a gift I received from Pastor John and Polly Snider, Pope Leo XIV’s friends, written on February 25, 1984.  

I am greatly humbled by the gift of this letter from Pastor John and Polly Snider.  It is an intimate portrait of the future pope to his close friends, and it gives us a window into the life of Fr. Bob Prevost in the beginning years of his ministry.”

How This Connection Came to Be

In January 2026 Father Kunst’s very large collection of papal artifacts (and saints’ artifacts) were displayed at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, an event that Pastor John and Polly attended.  At that event the couple met Father Kunst and subsequently gifted him with this letter and agreed to visit his home parish in Duluth to talk about their friendship with (now) Pope Leo XIV.

We are honored to share this letter, complete with the handwritten message that ends it.

Thank you, Pastor John and Polly, for your generosity and kindness.

Pope Leo XIV’s Letter to AB Dennis Schnurr on the Occasion of His 25th Anniversary as Bishop

On a recent visit to AB Schnurr, Father Kunst received several items which will become part of the Collection. He is so grateful for this most recent (and for all) the Archbishop’s generous gifts. Thank you Archbishop Schnurr!

The 1977 Villanova University College Yearbook, Belle Air in which Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV, is featured.

  • Date July 14, 2025
  • Tags Pope Leo XIV