Pope meets Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV welcomed the basketball squads from Villanova and Notre Dame, alongside thousands of enthusiastic U.S. supporters in Italy, prior to their season opener this weekend. Approximately 7,000 individuals entered the Paul VI audience hall inside the Vatican on Saturday, following a special Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Leo, who is a sports enthusiast, emphasized that sports foster unity and promote values like fraternity, solidarity, and peace.

He stated that in today's technology-driven world, sports serve as a tangible means to bring people together, teaching cooperation and mutual support. The U.S. college basketball season opener, known as the Eternal City Tip-Off, is being held in Rome, where the teams will play a doubleheader at the Palazzo Dello Sport, a 11,000-seat arena.

Pope Leo, who recently underwent lung cancer surgery, graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. During the audience, Pope Leo joked about his college affiliations, noting that Villanova counts him as an alumnus. Notre Dame's president, Rev. Robert Dowd, acknowledged the slight advantage Villanova holds, given its connection to the pope, but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to unite both teams and their fans in Rome for the papal audience and season opener.

Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated a private Mass for the traveling fans in St. Peter's Basilica, asking the audience to applaud the players. The Rev. Rob Hagan, Villanova's team chaplain, revealed that Pope Leo, a Chicago White Sox fan, is a true-blue Villanova supporter, having attended games at the Palestra, known as "The Cathedral of College Basketball."

The games, which fall on All Saints' Day, a significant Catholic holiday, are expected to draw a predominantly Villanova crowd, with approximately 90% of the attendees being Villanova supporters and 10% Notre Dame supporters.