Pope Leo XIV welcomed the basketball teams from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame during a special audience at the Vatican on Saturday, ahead of their season-opening games in Rome. The event, which drew an audience of approximately 7,000 people including players, coaches, fans, and family members, marked the occasion of the first-ever college basketball games held in the Italian capital.
The teams—men’s and women’s squads from both universities—are scheduled to face off in a doubleheader Sunday at the Palazzo dello Sport, an 11,000-seat arena located roughly 30 minutes from the Vatican. The matchup was named the "Eternal City Tip-Off" to honor Pope Leo XIV, who is an alumnus of Villanova.
During the audience, Pope Leo, born Robert Prevost, emphasized his neutrality in sports rivalries but humorously acknowledged that “Prevost,” his former self, might take a different stance. Speaking initially in Italian before switching to English, he recalled growing up in Chicago hearing Notre Dame's “Go Irish” cheer but said his loyalty ultimately lies with Villanova, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1977.
An enthusiastic sports fan and tennis player, the 71-year-old pontiff, who is still recovering from lung cancer surgery in mid-October, took part in lighthearted moments with the athletes. He dribbled a golden basketball presented by the Villanova women’s team and posed with the towering Notre Dame players after they gifted him a jersey and a similarly golden basketball. He held a banner emblazoned with Notre Dame’s motto, “Pope Leo, Play like a champion today,” and also acknowledged Villanova supporters with the Wildcats’ signature “V” hand gesture.
In his address, the pope urged the teams and their supporters to view sports as a path toward moral and spiritual development. He highlighted that becoming a champion in sports parallels the journey toward saintliness, emphasizing neither is innate but cultivated through effort. He cautioned against letting rivalry breed hostility, stressing that opponents are not enemies, even amid spirited competition.
Noting that the games fall on All Saints’ Day, Pope Leo connected athletic competition to Christian teachings, encouraging participants to pursue holiness in all facets of life, including sports. “Our true goal, beyond emerging victorious in any one event, is to win the prize of everlasting life,” he said.
The Vatican audience underscored a message of sportsmanship and unity as the teams prepare for a landmark event blending collegiate athletics with a significant cultural and religious occasion.