Pope Leo greets 7,000 fans ahead of Vatican season opener

Approximately 7,000 spectators entered the Paul VI audience hall on Saturday following a private Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The gathering took place the day before the U.S. college basketball season begins with a doubleheader in Rome. The event, branded as the Eternal City Tip-Off, is scheduled for Sunday at the Palazzo Dello Sport.

The 11,000-seat arena sits roughly a 30-minute drive from the Vatican. The matchup features the men's and women's teams from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame. The game coincides with All Saints' Day, a major holiday in the Catholic liturgical calendar.

Pope Leo addressed the crowd after the religious service. He described athletics as a mechanism for fostering fraternity, solidarity, and peace. According to Vatican News, he stated that sports act as a concrete means of bringing people together. He noted that this unity is increasingly necessary in an age where technology can create distance between individuals.

The pontiff, a 1977 Villanova graduate with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, joked about the rivalry between the two schools. He referenced the Notre Dame chant, 'Go Irish,' while noting that he graduated from Villanova. Leo said the pope does not take sides, though he acknowledged that others might have a different opinion.

He urged the players and their families to view competition as a path toward sainthood. Leo observed that no one is born a champion, just as no one is born a saint. He warned against letting rivalries become hostile, hoping fans would get to know one another even while cheering passionately.

Rev. Robert Dowd, president of Notre Dame, acknowledged that Villanova holds an advantage in the crowd given the pope's alma mater. In a Saturday interview, he called the opportunity to bring both teams and fans together in Rome amazing. He expressed gratitude, stating that he is sure the pope will be a bridge builder when the teams play each other.

Before the audience, Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated a private Mass for the traveling fans. The English-language liturgy was televised live by Vatican Media and featured the full trappings of a papal Mass. On the papal plane during a recent trip to France, Leo estimated that 90% of the attendees were Villanova supporters and 10% were Notre Dame fans.