In a session that mixed spirituality with sportsmanship, Italian tennis ace Jannik Sinner met Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday at the Vatican, just days before playing in the Italian Open. Sinner, along with his parents and officials from the Italian Tennis Federation, had a private audience with the newly elected pontiff, who is famous for his love of tennis.
The Vatican confirmed the encounter, which soon became popular for its levity. Pope Leo XIV, previously US Cardinal Robert Prevost, was in the news earlier in the week when he quipped, “Just don’t bring Sinner,” cleverly referencing the athlete’s last name in a Catholic pun.
Un onore immenso incontrare Papa Leone XIV
? Vatican Media pic.twitter.com/HUxK79USp1
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) May 14, 2025
Sinner reacted graciously and humorously when questioned over the pope’s comment in a press conference. Blushing and hiding his face, he jokingly said, “Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?” before going on to say, “Clearly, I heard that he played as a child. I think it’s a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who enjoys this sport that we’re playing.”
From racket to reverence
As a gesture of gratitude, Sinner gave Pope Leo XIV one of his tennis rackets. Though there was a lighthearted offer to have the two knock a ball about, the pontiff, glancing upwards at the high ceiling of the reception room, laughed it aside. “Better not,” he said, bringing smiles from everyone present.
The pope’s interest in tennis is not merely symbolic. In a 2023 interview, he referred to himself as “quite the amateur tennis player,” which implies that his involvement in the sport is more than mere casual interest.
A common appreciation for the sport
While the Italian Open was being played close to the Vatican, Sinner’s encounter with the pope could not have occurred at a more significant time. Just back on court following a three-month suspension for a doping offense, Sinner’s visit to the Vatican marked a public and personal comeback.
This unforgettable convergence of a young tennis great and a spiritually oriented sports fan in Pope Leo XIV is a reminder of the lingua franca of sport and the happiness it brings, be it on the court or in the Vatican walls.
