Pope Leo XIV Meets Tennis Star Jannik Sinner at the Vatican

VATICAN CITY, May 14, 2025: Pope Leo XIV welcomed Italian tennis champion Jannik Sinner, his family, and Alberto Binaghi, President of the Italian Tennis Federation, for a private audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Wednesday, May 14. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2025 Italian Open, currently underway in Rome.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the visit reflected Pope Leo XIV’s well-known enthusiasm for tennis. During the encounter, Sinner presented the Pope with a tennis ball and, in a light-hearted moment, asked if he would like to play. The Pope smiled and replied, “Here we’ll break something. Best not to!”

The Internazionali BNL d’Italia, part of the ATP and WTA 1000 tours, began on May 7 and runs through May 18 at Rome’s Foro Italico complex. The tournament features top-ranked players from around the world, including Sinner, who remains a leading figure in Italy’s international tennis presence.

Courtesy: Vatican News