Golfer Turns Around Game After Pope Francis Blessing

Ted Herbistansicker of Rialto, CA was in Washington, DC on a business trip. He just happened to be in town during Pope Francis’ current USA tour. The city had blocked off the streets, and throngs of people surged the barriers when the pope moved by in his specially designed car dubbed the Popemobile.

“I finished my meetings and wondered if I would have time to play some golf in town before heading back West,” Mr. Herbistansicker said. “Right then the Pope came up the walkway from the parade route. I guess he was staying in my hotel. He reached out to me with a smile, so I took his hand.”

“What can I bless for you today, son?” he asked me.

I didn’t have time to think, so I said, “My golf game, Your Holiness. Especially my short game!”

“He looked at my hands. He must be a golf fan — he noticed my left hand was not as tan as my right due to the golf glove. He took my left hand, kissed it and pulled it back behind my head in a perfect at-the-top position. He said a quick prayer in Latin, looked up at the sky, and let my hand go. In a flash, he was gone.

“It happened so fast, I didn’t know what to make of it. I headed out to a local muni and signed up as a single. On the front nine I had eight birdies and a hole-in-one. On the back nine, I shot six birdies, two eagles and another hole-in-one. Thank you, Pope Francis!”