Pope Francis Neutral on Villanova-Notre Dame Game, But Prevost Might Not Be
Pope Leo XIV, an alumnus of Villanova, told the basketball teams from his alma mater and Notre Dame that as pontiff he must remain neutral in sports, though he joked his former self might disagree.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV told the basketball teams from his alma mater, Villanova, and fellow Catholic university Notre Dame that in matters of sport, the pontiff is neutral. Then, the pope, who was born Robert Prevost, added that his former self might disagree.
“Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now,” he said to laughter during an audience of 7,000 people from both schools in the Vatican audience hall. The teams were in Rome for the U.S. college basketball season opener, dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off.
Jay Wright, former Villanova coach and recent inductee into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame, said the pilgrimage and meeting the pope were bigger than the game.
The 71-year-old pontiff, who recently underwent lung cancer surgery, kept the appointment ahead of Sunday's opener. Leo graduated from Villanova with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1977. He was born in Chicago, not far from Notre Dame.
Leo, an avid sports fan and tennis player, accepted a golden basketball from the Villanova women's team and a jersey and another golden ball from Notre Dame. He posed for a photo with the Notre Dame team, holding a banner that read “Pope Leo, Play like a champion today,” a nod to the university's famed football stadium sign. He also made the "V" gesture for Villanova as chants of “Let’s Go 'Nova” erupted.
“He is a true Villanovan,” said Villanova women’s coach Denise Dillon. “I said, ‘OK everyone: V’s up.’ And he immediately was in with it.”
After starting his remarks in Italian, Leo switched to English, recalling that he grew up hearing “Go Irish,” the Notre Dame chant. “But as you all know, Prevost graduated from Villanova,” Leo said, referring to himself in the third person. “So the pope doesn’t take sides,” he said, before adding, “Prevost has another opinion."
In prepared remarks, Leo urged the teams and their families to embrace sports as a way to grow in holiness. "No one is born a champion, just as no one is born a saint,” Leo said.
He cautioned against letting rivalries escalate, expressing hope that fans in Rome would get to know each other while cheering. “In any competition, the members of two teams, even when they have a competitive rivalry, are certainly not enemies,” he said. “I hope, therefore, that despite the competitive nature of college basketball, there will be opportunities for the players and the fans of both teams to get to know each other in your days here in Rome.”
Leo noted the game would take place on All Saints’ Day, and that the church teaches Christians to pursue holiness in all aspects of life, including sports. “Our true goal, beyond emerging victorious in any one event, is to win the prize of everlasting life,” he said.
Like his predecessors, Leo has praised sport’s value for physical and spiritual development, calling it a “school of fraternity” that nurtures friendship, respect, and teamwork. However, he also warned about the “win-at-all-cost” mentality contributing to doping, match-fixing, and corruption.
Notre Dame’s president, the Rev. Robert Dowd, acknowledged Villanova’s edge given the pope’s allegiance but said, “The pope is a pope for all of us.” He added that he was sure Leo would be a “bridge builder” during the game.
Villanova’s president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, expressed pride in being with Leo but stated the game itself was not the main point. “No matter what happens on the court, this is the true highlight of the trip,” Donohue said. “Tomorrow we will cheer, we will compete, but today we are simply grateful.”
Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated a private Mass for traveling fans in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday, asking attendees to applaud the players. The liturgy had the trappings of a papal Mass and was televised live by Vatican Media.
Leo is a known fan of the Chicago White Sox and has followed basketball. During a recent trip to France, he remarked that about 90% of the expected attendees were Villanova fans, predicting “the voice of the people of God will be very strong on the Villanova side.”