Pope Leo XIV is a 1977 alumnus of Villanova University and an avid sports fan.
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PopeLeoXIVmaygettheopportunitytowatchhisalmamaterplaybasketballinpersonduringthe2026-2027season.AccordingtoareportfromCBSSports,theVillanovaandNotreDamemen’sandwomen’sbasketballteamshavereceivedspecialclearancefromtheNCAAtoopentheirseasonsinRomeforadoubleheaderonNov.1.
ThecollegebasketballseasonofficiallystartsonNov.2but,accordingtothereport,theNCAAapprovedawaiverinJanuarytoallowtheteamstostartonedaybeforegiventheprecedenceofthesegames.
BothuniversitiesareprominentCatholicschoolsthathavetiestothepope.PopeLeo,bornRobertFrancisPrevostinChicago,isa1977alumnusofVillanovaUniversity.AsfortheUniversityofNotreDame,itisregardedasthemostprominentCatholicinstitutionofhigherlearningintheworldandhasanoutpostinRome.
ItiswellknownthatPopeLeoisanavidsportsfan.HehasalreadywelcomedseveralathletestotheVaticanduringhispapacy,includingtheSSCNapolisoccerteamafteritsleaguechampionshipinMay2025andItalianprofessionaltennisplayerJannikSi
