VATICAN CITY | October 31, 2026 | Pope Leo XIV welcomed basketball players, university representatives and thousands of supporters from two rival American Catholic universities to the Vatican on Saturday, using a lighthearted encounter with his alma mater Villanova and its longtime rival Notre Dame to deliver a message that competition should never turn opponents into enemies.
Around 7,000 people gathered at the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall as the Pope received the men’s and women’s basketball teams from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana ahead of their historic season-opening games in Rome on Sunday, November 1.
The meeting brought together the two universities for the Eternal City Tip-Off, a special international basketball event featuring a men’s and women’s doubleheader at Rome’s Palazzo dello Sport. The games mark the opening of the 2026-2027 US college basketball season and coincide with the Catholic Church’s celebration of All Saints’ Day.
Pope Leo, the first American-born pontiff, revealed a playful connection to both universities. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, he grew up in a city where Notre Dame enjoys strong support but graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a degree in mathematics.
Recalling his childhood on Chicago’s South Side, he joked that residents often cheered for Notre Dame. However, he reminded the gathering that his university allegiance belonged to Villanova.
“The Pope doesn’t take sides. Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience, according to Reuters.
Despite the friendly rivalry, the Pope used the occasion to emphasize the broader purpose of sports, saying athletic competition should promote cooperation, solidarity and friendship rather than hostility.
He reminded the players and supporters that competing teams, regardless of their rivalry, “are certainly not enemies.”
In a separate address reported by Vatican News, Leo highlighted how sports can bring people together in an increasingly technology-driven world, where personal connections can sometimes become more distant. He encouraged athletes to recognize the value of mutual respect, shared experiences and fraternity beyond the pursuit of victory.
The Vatican gathering was also a significant moment for the two Catholic institutions, whose shared religious heritage helped shape the international event. Both universities described the Rome visit as an opportunity to bring together faith, education, athletics and cultural exchange.
Villanova’s connection to the Pope dates back nearly five decades. After graduating in 1977, Prevost entered the Order of Saint Augustine later that year, beginning a religious vocation that eventually took him to Peru, where he served as a missionary and later became a bishop. He was elected pope on May 8, 2025, becoming the first member of the Augustinian order to lead the Catholic Church.
The choice of Rome as the venue also carries historical significance. The Palazzo dello Sport, the site of Sunday’s games, hosted the basketball competitions of the 1960 Summer Olympics, including the gold medal game.
According to Notre Dame Athletics, the men’s basketball team’s appearance in Rome marks its first regular-season game outside the United States. The event is also believed to be the first time a men’s US college basketball season has opened with a game played outside the country.
As the teams prepared to settle their rivalry on the court, Pope Leo’s message extended beyond basketball. With the games scheduled on All Saints’ Day, the occasion also offered a reminder of the Church’s emphasis on holiness, friendship and the values that unite people across different communities.
For the Pope, the real victory was not simply winning a game, but recognizing the humanity of those on the other side of the competition.
The encounter demonstrated how even a sporting rivalry can become an opportunity to promote fellowship, respect and peace.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
