After Pope Leo XIV’s election, various details about the new pontiff have quickly emerged: he attended Villanova University, has Creole heritage, watched the Conclave before joining it, and plays Words with Friends with one of his brothers daily.
Another interesting revelation: Pope Leo is an avid tennis fan and plays regularly. “I consider myself quite the amateur tennis player,” he said in 2023. “Since leaving Peru, I haven’t had many chances to practice, so I’m looking forward to getting back on the court.”
While living in Rome, he played often. “He played tennis weekly,” said Father Joseph Farrell, the American prior general of the Order of St. Augustine. “He understands the importance of staying in good physical shape. He plays for the joy of the game, to keep up with it, but also for stress relief.”
During a meeting with international media yesterday, journalists offered to organize a charity tennis match for the new pope. In response, Pope Leo joked, “But we can’t invite Sinner,” referring to tennis star Jannik Sinner and the English meaning of his surname.
When asked about the pope’s comments during the Rome Open, Sinner responded, “Why do you have to make things difficult for me?” He continued, “I heard he played as a kid. It’s great for us tennis players to have a pope who enjoys the sport we love.”
Perhaps, one day, we’ll see Pope Leo and Sinner facing off on the Vatican’s secret tennis court.
