In a remarkable and memorable occasion, Pope Leo XIV received Italy’s newly crowned Serie A champions, Napoli, at the Vatican on Tuesday.
Napoli clinched their fourth Scudetto title on Friday with a 2–0 victory over Cagliari at home, narrowly edging out Inter Milan by a single point in a dramatic conclusion to the season.
Led by Italian international Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the team arrived for the papal audience a day after their celebratory open-top bus parade through central Naples.
“The press says I am an AS Roma fan, but you are welcome! This is what the press says. Not everything you read in the press is true,” the Pope remarked, according to an official transcript.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, is known to have an interest in sports, including tennis. He is widely believed to be a supporter of AS Roma, though he welcomed Napoli with warmth and humour.
Napoli chairman, Aurelio De Laurentiis, presented the Pope with a blue Napoli jersey signed by the players, bearing the number 10 and inscribed with his name in Italian, “Papa Leone XIV”.
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“You are a number 10, so you are a great striker,” De Laurentiis joked. The Pope responded with a chuckle and a simple “thank you”.
Head coach Antonio Conte, introduced by De Laurentiis as “deeply Catholic,” knelt and kissed the Pope’s hand. Pope Leo responded warmly, saying he had seen him many times on television.
In a brief address, the pontiff emphasised the value of teamwork, unity, and the formative role of sport, particularly in the lives of young people.
He noted that victory is achieved through a sustained collective effort, rather than the brilliance of a single individual.
“The championship is won by the team, and when I say ‘team’, I mean the players, the coach, the entire squad, and the club,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo offered his blessings to the players and officials, extending his congratulations also on behalf of his personal cook.
“She is from Naples and she says: best wishes! She would like to be here too. Mrs Rosa, a big fan,” the Pope added, smiling.
