Pope Leo XIV joked about a sports star. Was it funny?

Leo XIV does not hide the fact that he is a great tennis enthusiast . In the past, the clergyman himself took on competition on the court. "I consider myself a tennis amateur. Since leaving Peru, I have had little opportunity to practice, so I am looking forward to returning to the court," said Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost in 2023.

Pope Leo XIV to appear at WTA 1000 in Rome?

The Pope was certainly delighted to learn that there was a tennis court in the northern part of the Vatican. In 1978, a special Friendship Tournament was even held there, with participants including Giovanni Battista Re, the current Dean of the College of Cardinals, and Faustino Sainz Munoz, who was appointed Nuncio to Great Britain by John Paul II.

Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, has already heard about the Holy Father's passion for sports. In connection with this, he has sent a special invitation to the Vatican to the WTA 1000 tournament, which is currently being played on the courts in Rome . It is not yet known whether Leo XIV will find time to appear in the stands at the Foro Italico.

Pope Leo XIV joked about Jannik Sinner

Meanwhile, the Italian ANSA agency reports that during a conversation with media representatives in the Paul VI Audience Hall, a reference was made to the Pope's passion for sports. One of the journalists decided to encourage the Holy Father to organize a tennis tournament in which he himself could take part. He added that the legendary Andre Agassi could appear among the participants.

In response, Leo XIV attempted a joke. "As long as you don't bring Sinner, we can play," the clearly amused Pope replied. In this way, the Holy Father joked about the Italian sportsman's name, because the word "sinner" in English means "sinner."

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