Pope Leo XIV meets basketball teams in Rome

Pope Leo XIV addressed 7,000 members of the Villanova and Notre Dame basketball community in the Vatican audience hall on Saturday. The crowd included players, coaches, fans, and family members traveling to Rome for the U.S. college basketball season opener. The event, known as the Eternal City Tip-Off, was organized to honor the first American pope.

The teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday at the Palazzo dello Sport, an 11,000-seat arena located about 30 minutes from the Vatican. Leo, who is 71 years old, kept the audience appointment despite undergoing lung cancer surgery on October 13. He has been recovering from the procedure in recent weeks.

In his remarks, the pope urged the two schools to compete without treating each other as enemies. He noted that the games will be played on All Saints’ Day, a holiday that encourages Christians to pursue saintliness in all aspects of life. Leo stated that no one is born a champion or a saint. He hoped fans would use the weekend to get to know one another while cheering passionately.

Leo graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He was born in Chicago, which is near Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. During the event, he joked that his former self, Robert Prevost, might favor his alma mater. He told the crowd that Prevost has a different opinion, but the pope remains neutral.

Villanova women’s coach Denise Dillon said Leo is a true Villanovan. He made the team’s “V” hand gesture when fans chanted. The Notre Dame president, Rev. Robert Dowd, acknowledged Villanova has an advantage because the pope is an alumnus. However, Dowd said the pope is for all of them and will act as a bridge builder during the games. Villanova president Rev. Peter M. Donohue called the trip a highlight for the community.

Jay Wright, the former Villanova coach who led the team to two national titles, said the pilgrimage to Rome is bigger than the game. Wright was inducted into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame this month. The Vatican event concluded with Leo receiving a golden basketball and a jersey from the teams. He posed for photos with both groups before Sunday’s match.

The next scheduled event is the basketball doubleheader on Sunday at the Palazzo dello Sport. Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated a private Mass for traveling fans in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday morning. The liturgy was televised by Vatican Media.