Lou Ferrigno fulfilled a childhood ambition on Wednesday when he met with Pope Leo XIV.
The actor, who played the Marvel character during its 1977–1982 US television run, spoke briefly with the American pope at the conclusion of Leo's general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
"I’m here because it’s a lifelong dream for me to meet the pope," Ferrigno told reporters. Explaining that one side of his family hails from the southern Amalfi region, Ferrigno noted that he grew up hearing about the pope within an Italian Catholic family.
"I’m very, very honoured to be here to see Pope Leo, because it’s my whole life, it’s a dream coming true."
He posed for photographers, recreating the gesture that made him famous during his on-screen transformation from Bruce Banner into the superhero Hulk — raising his fists and then bringing them down in a smashing movement.
Ferrigno, a retired professional bodybuilder, starred as Hulk in the original CBS series prior to moving on to other film and television roles.
Elsewhere, Major League Baseball team the Chicago White Sox received a letter from Pope Leo XIV on the same day of their playoff opener against the Houston Astros.
The Sept. 9 letter was addressed to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and the team said it arrived at Chicago's Rate Field on Tuesday ahead of Game 1 of its AL Wild Card Series against the Astros.
Leo is a White Sox fan dating to his days growing up in Chicago. He was known as Robert Prevost or Father Bob when he went to the World Series opener 21 years ago, a 5-3 White Sox victory over the Astros.
The pontiff began his note by thanking Reinsdorf for the letter he sent after the team paid tribute to Leo during an Aug. 11 game against Cincinnati.
“It is my hope that the White Sox will continue to foster bonds of friendship and solidarity among people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace,” Leo wrote.
“With these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty's abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones.”
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