Pope meets Villanova, Notre Dame basketball teams in Vatican before Rome opener
A Vatican welcome for teams
Pope Leo XIV met the Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams on Saturday, joined by thousands of U.S. fans visiting Italy. He spoke about sport’s ability to bring people together and encourage fraternity, solidarity and peace.
Leo joked about the universities’ ties to him. He grew up in Chicago, where people often said “Go Irish,” but he graduated from Villanova, according to Vatican News. He added that the pope does not take sides.
Rome hosts season opener
The teams are in Rome for Sunday’s U.S. college basketball season opener, known as the Eternal City Tip-Off. The event was created to honor the U.S.-born pope. The universities’ men’s and women’s teams are set to play a doubleheader at the Palazzo Dello Sport. The arena has 11,000 seats and is about a half-hour drive from the Vatican.
Leaders mark the occasion
Notre Dame president Rev. Robert Dowd recognized Villanova’s connection to Leo as a possible advantage. In a Saturday interview, he called the chance to bring both teams and their fans to Rome for a papal audience and season opener “amazing.”
Sport and holiday coincide
Leo is an avid Chicago White Sox fan and follows basketball as well. The Sunday games fall on All Saints’ Day, a major Catholic holiday.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV met Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams in the Vatican on Saturday.
- The teams’ men’s and women’s squads are scheduled for a Sunday doubleheader in Rome.
- The Eternal City Tip-Off was created to honor the U.S.-born pope.
- The games coincide with All Saints’ Day, a major Catholic holiday.