Pope Engages with Teams Before Eternal City Tip-Off

Pope Leo XIV met with the basketball teams from Villanova and Notre Dame prior to their highly-anticipated doubleheader in Rome. The Pope, born Robert Prevost, maintained that there was no room for favoritism in the Vatican but humorously noted that his former self might disagree. "Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now," he joked in front of a cheering audience of 7,000 people from both schools—players, coaches, fans, and their families—in the Vatican audience hall.

The men’s and women’s teams from Villanova and Notre Dame are set to play in the Eternal City Tip-Off on Sunday at the 11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport. The men's game is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 am ET on FOX, with the women’s game following on FS1.

Despite concerns regarding the audience due to the Pope's recovery from lung cancer surgery on October 13, he affirmed his presence leading up to Sunday’s opener. Having graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova, an Augustinian school near Philadelphia, he reflected on his roots, recalling that he was born in Chicago, not far from Notre Dame, which is located in South Bend, Indiana.

An avid sports fan and tennis player, Pope Leo dribbled a golden basketball, which had been presented to him by the Villanova women’s team. When the Notre Dame players gifted him a jersey and another golden basketball, he humorously tried to stand taller at the podium for a photo opportunity with the Fighting Irish, holding a banner that read: "Pope Leo, Play like a champion today," a nod to a famous Notre Dame sign. He reciprocated with the Villanova community, making the “V” gesture with his hand as chants of "Let’s Go 'Nova" filled the hall.

Switching from Italian to English, the Pope spoke informally, sharing anecdotes from his Chicago upbringing, where he often heard the Notre Dame chant, "Go Irish." He maintained neutrality, stating, "The pope doesn’t take sides," before humorously reiterating that "Prevost has another opinion, but we won't do that now."

In his prepared remarks to the crowd, Pope Leo encouraged the teams and their families to view sports as a vehicle for personal growth and sanctity, stating, "No one is born a champion, just as no one is born a saint."

The scheduled activities for both teams during their time in Rome extend beyond the upcoming game; they include a tour of the Colosseum, an Italian cooking class, and a collaborative presentation on Sports and Spirituality at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum. Villanova men’s coach Kevin Willard expressed his enthusiasm for the diverse experiences awaiting the team, emphasizing that these moments will create lasting memories. "What an unbelievable experience I had to play in Rome," he reflected, hoping that the players would appreciate the significance of their time spent in the city.

This basketball event not only offers a competitive season matchup but also promises to be a transformative experience for all participants, transcending the realm of sports and highlighting the shared mission of both institutions.