Napoli’s Serie A victory received a divine nod on Tuesday as Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly crowned champions to the Vatican.
Fresh from clinching their fourth Scudetto with a 2-0 win over Cagliari, the team—led by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and head coach Antonio Conte—was honored in Rome just a day after their victory parade.
The historic meeting was filled with warmth and humor. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff and a noted sports fan, playfully remarked, “They say I support AS Roma, but you’re welcome here! Don’t believe everything the press writes.”
Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis gifted the Pope a No. 10 Napoli jersey personalized with “Papa Leone XIV,” calling him “a great striker,” which drew a smile and a lighthearted “thank you” from the Pope.
Conte, described by De Laurentiis as “a devoted Catholic,” knelt and kissed Pope Leo’s hand. The pontiff responded with recognition, noting that he had often seen the manager on television.
In his address, Pope Leo highlighted the virtues of unity, hard work, and the life lessons found in sports. “A championship is won by the entire team,” he said, “not by one star, but by the collaboration of players, coaches, and the entire club.”