Pope Leo meets Italian Serie A champions Napoli

 

Pope Leo meets Italian Serie A champions Napoli Pope Leo XIV hosted SSC Napoli, the newly crowned Italian Serie A champions, at the Vatican’s Clementine Hall. Napoli secured their fourth title on May 23 with a 2-0 win over Cagliari, sparking celebrations with 200,000 fans in Naples. Led by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and coach Antonio Conte, the team was honored for their collective success. Pope Leo emphasized the power of teamwork, stating that championships are won by the entire team, including players, staff, and management. He cautioned that excessive commercialization risks stripping sports of their educational value, particularly for young people, urging coaches and parents to prioritize moral development through athletics. During the audience, Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis presented Pope Leo with a signed team jersey featuring the number 10 and “Papa Leone XIV,” evoking the legacy of Diego Maradona. The Pope, a known sports enthusiast who plays tennis and supports the Chicago White Sox, humorously addressed rumors about supporting AS Roma, Napoli’s rivals, saying, “Not everything you read in the press is true,” after noticing a delayed applause from the team. He also shared warm congratulations from his Neapolitan cook, Rosa, a devoted Napoli fan. The meeting highlighted the Pope’s engagement with sports culture, following his recent audience with tennis star Jannik Sinner. The event underscored Napoli’s triumph and the Pope’s message about the deeper value of sports beyond competition, resonating with fans and players alike as they celebrated a historic victory.

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