Pope Leo XIV casts doubt on which soccer club he supports during audience with Italian champ Napoli

VATICAN CITY (AP) — It is known that Pope Leo XIV is a fan of the Chicago White Sox and enjoys playing tennis. However, the question on the minds of many in the Vatican and Italy is whether the first American pope supports an Italian soccer team.

During a private audience with Napoli, the newly crowned Italian champion, Leo hinted that he follows Italian soccer but cast doubt on assumptions that he is a Roma fan. When he entered the Clementine Hall where Napoli’s players and staff were gathered, there was a moment of hesitation before the guests applauded.

Leo humorously remarked that perhaps they hesitated because the media often portrays him as a fan of Roma, emphasizing that not everything in the press is accurate. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was a supporter of the Buenos Aires soccer club San Lorenzo from Argentina.

Napoli recently secured its fourth Serie A title with a 2-0 victory over Cagliari, with goals from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku. During the meeting, Napoli’s president presented Leo with a Napoli jersey bearing the number 10, previously worn by the legendary Diego Maradona, and featuring signatures from all the players.

The pope praised Napoli’s title win for its social significance, highlighting the importance of teamwork and sacrifice for the greater good. He also cautioned about the commercialization of sports, urging parents and sports officials to uphold moral values in competitive sports for the benefit of young people.

Leo’s meeting with Napoli followed a recent private audience with top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner.