The Fathers of Our Holy Fathers (Morning Air)

Image via New Africa / Shutterstock.   Okay, friends, let’s talk Dad Power. This Morning Air episode with John Morales and Fr. Marcel Taillon will introduce you to the fathers of the Holy Fathers. And wow... their stories are basically a crash course in heroic, everyday sainthood. Here's a quick tour:     Pope Leo XIV    🪖 His dad was a WWII Navy vet who literally took part in the Normandy landings. (Operation Overlord) That’s not your average “soccer dad.”   📚 After the war, he became a teacher in Illinois; he modeled discipline, sacrifice, and brains, which clearly rubbed off on Pope Leo.   ⚾ Oh, and he’s a diehard White Sox fan.      Pope St. John Paul II   His mom died young, so it was just him and his dad, who he literally called his “first seminary.”   🕯️ His father’s quiet witness (like praying at his bedside) shaped JP2’s soul deeply; after his dad passed when he was still in high school, the Holy Spirit stepped in big time.   🎿 JP2 was the athlete pope: skiing, hiking, soccer, and theology in the woods.      Pope Benedict XVI   His dad was a German policeman who quietly resisted the Nazi regime. Talk about courage. 👮‍♂️🛡️     Pope Francis   His dad was a railway worker in Argentina, faithful and humble, doing the work and raising his family right.   Pope Francis is famous for his simplicity and heart for the poor... not hard to trace that back to his dad’s blue-collar roots. 🚂❤️     Bonus: Faith, Fatherhood & Sports: A Holy Hat Trick 🎩⚾⛪   Fr. Marcel just got back from the Jubilee for Sports in Rome, where athletes from every corner (including NBA star Gordon Hayward!) shared how faith and athleticism fit together.   A good reminder: 👉 Don’t let sports become your religion. 👉 But do let it teach you teamwork, sacrifice, and joy.     🙏 Takeaway for Dads (and the rest of us):   📌 Ordinary dads + consistent faith = extraordinary impact.   Even when life was challenging... these fathers quietly built the foundations for future Popes. So, if you're a dad feeling like you're just trying to survive bedtime or pay the bills... take heart. You never know what kind of eternal ripple effect your faithfulness is making.     💬 As Fr. Marcel says:   “Don’t just evaluate your children by today. Take the long view.”     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.