Is this a coincidence or Divine Providence?

There's an interesting Super Bowl statistic that will come to fruition in 2026: after the last three papal elections, the Seattle Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl as the number one seed.

The Athletic published the statistics on X:

Click here if you cannot see the post above.

The text of the social media post reads,

"The last three times a new Pope was elected, the Seahawks have made the Super Bowl as the No. 1 seed.

2005: Pope Benedict XVI elected, SEA to SB XL
2013: Pope Francis elected, SEA to SB XLVIII
2025: Pope Leo XIV elected, SEA to SB LX"

ChurchPop reported in early January 2026 that the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl following the last two papal elections. Now, the Seahawks will once again play in the Super Bowl following Pope Leo XIV's election to the papal office.

Here is the January 4, 2026, post from NFL Memes:

Click here if you cannot see the post above.

Alongside a picture featuring Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV, and the Seattle Seahawks, the caption reads,

“The last two times a new Pope has been elected, the Seahawks have clinched the 1 seed and made it to the Super Bowl.”

The Instagram account True.Catholics further explained,

“It sounds like a meme, but the timeline is wild: every time the Vatican elects a new pope, the Seahawks somehow find themselves right back in Super Bowl territory. In 2005, a new pope was chosen, and Seattle stormed to a No. 1 seed and a Super Bowl appearance. In 2013, another pope is elected—and the Seahawks don’t just return, they dominate and lift the Lombardi. 
“Now in 2025/2026, history lines up again: new pope, Seattle back at the top, and the league watching to see if the pattern holds. Coincidence or destiny, Seahawks fans have learned one thing—when white smoke rises, Lombardi hopes rise with it.”

Many social media users commented on the statistic. Some believe it is a “divine sign,” while others note that Pope Leo is a Chicago Bears fan.  

Here’s what some users said:

One user joked, “The Holy SEA.”
Someone else said, “Seattle better win the SB this year because they might have a long wait until there is a new Pope. Plus, this one is a Bears fan.”
Another person also joked, “Holy See(hawks).”
Another user said, “Good thing is that as Catholics we shouldn’t believe in superstitions.”

Regardless of the reasoning for the statistic, it is important not to fall into superstition. The Catechism of the Catholic Church warns against superstitious practices and beliefs. It is a violation of the First Commandment.

Paragraph 2111 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines superstition:

“Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary. To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition.” (CCC 2111)

What are your thoughts about this Super Bowl statistic?

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