British Columbia

Pope Francis gets custom Vancouver Canucks jersey from B.C. newlyweds

Joseph and Marion San Jose gave Pope Francis his very own Canucks jersey while honeymooning in Rome.

Joseph and Marion San Jose present the jersey while honeymooning in Rome

Newlyweds Joseph and Marion San Jose present Pope Francis with a Vancouver Canucks jersey on Wednesday. (L'Osservatore Romano/Facebook)

Pope Francis received an unusual gift Wednesday — a custom Vancouver Canucks jersey, with his name on the back, from newlywed B.C. couple Joseph and Marion San Jose.

The San Joses, who are honeymooning in Rome, got to meet the Pope as part of a tradition for newlyweds during the Wednesday general audience, which they had tickets to attend.

"If you are able to prove that you had been married … in the Catholic Church within two months and show up wearing wedding garb, then we got to sit in a special place and meet with him personally," said Joseph San Jose via Facebook.

The couple said the Pope seemed surprised and enthusiastic when they presented the jersey, No. 15, to him.

Marion San Jose tried to explain to the Pope in Spanish about how it was a hockey jersey. According to them, the Pope said, "Yes! Hockey! Hockey!" before blessing them and moving on to the next couple.

Right-winger Brad Richardson currently has the No. 15 jersey.

Pope Francis's custom Vancouver Canucks jersey shares No. 15 with Brad Richardson. (Clayton Imoo/Instagram)