By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_now | Thursday, May 8, 2025
Photo Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty
Tennis has affected the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Emeritus Robert Francis Prevost made history today as the first Pope ever from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
The young Pope, who is named Pope Leo XIV, has a story as a dedicated tennis and fan.
Indeed, Pope Leo, whose father was a Veteran of the United States Navy of World War II, graduated from Villanova University with a Mathematics degree in 1977.
The young Pope speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese and a fan of Chicago Cubs grew up.
These days, Pope Leo is reported to be big Carlos Alcaraz fan
The New Pope is a fan of Alcaraz! https://t.co/z8aj71p7tx
– José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV welcomed a crowd of capacities that fasted every corner of St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican wishing people all over the world peace.
The 69-year-old Pope, who is from Agoikago, spent most of his career as a missionary in South America. Standing on the balcony, Pope Leo spoke in front of the crowd in Italian and Spanish.
Pope Leo follows the late Pope Francis, a Argentine Jesuit who was a devoted football fan as well.
A couple of years before the 133 cardinals of the poll in the conclusion selected it as Pope today, said then Archbishop Robert Prevost of Chiclayo in Peru nation He was “an excellent tennis fan”, who was looking forward to returning to trial.
“I consider myself an excellent tennis fan,” said Robert Francis Prevost, then Archbishop Emeritus of Chiclayo said nation. “Since I left Peru, I had little opportunity to practice, so I look forward to returning to the courts.”
Given his new role as leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo, who praised his predecessor Pope Francis and pledged to continue his work taking care of suffering, certainly will not have much time for tennis. The new Pope holds both the United States and Peruvian citizenship.
That the young Pope, Prevost … Likes Tennis!“I consider myself an amateur tennis player. Since I left Peru, I have had some occasions to play. I look forward to going back on track”
Bank from now Pic.twitter.com/kz49JasyG6
– José Morón (@jmgmoron) May 8, 2025
While thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square to see and listen to the New Pope, thousands of tennis fans were a few miles away seeing all actions in Rome’s red clay.
Of course, some of the best tennis stars, including Roger Federer and wife Mirka and Juan Martin Del Potro – have met previous popes. Del Potro, whose rosary lost during one of his international trips, urged the Pope to bless his rosary.
Here you have a gallery of several stars spent in the Vatican.
Twelve years ago this month, Del Potro traveled to the Vatican to meet his Argentine friend, Pope Francis.
As a gift for his sanctity, Del Potro gave Francis Racquet Wilson that he used to shake the champion of Roger Federer for the 2009 US open title. This gift brought a big smile on Pontifi’s face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndjf7bektes
“It was a tremendous experience with Pope Francis, something I will never forget,” said Del Potro, who is from Tandil, about 250 miles from the hometown of Pope Francis of Buenos Aires. “It was a dream come true for a guy like me. It was a memorable moment.
“I was very nervous before I met him, to be able to congratulate him and talk to him. He was good. Everyone knows he is very humble. Today was a day I will remember him forever.”
Del Potro met the Pope massively at the Vatican. Argentinean friend Carlos Berlocq and Horacio Zeballos, Kevin Anderson of South Africa, Mexico of Mexico also participated in Marin, Croatia.
