Pope Leo XIV says he is neutral as Villanova and Notre Dame open season in Rome

Pope Leo XIV told 7,000 athletes, coaches, and fans gathered at the Vatican on Saturday that he remains neutral in the rivalry between his alma mater, Villanova, and his hometown school, Notre Dame. The audience filled the Vatican audience hall for the opening of the U.S. college basketball season in Rome.

The event, dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off, honors the first American pope. Villanova and Notre Dame men's and women's teams will play a doubleheader at the Palazzo dello Sport on Sunday. The venue holds 11,000 spectators and sits about 30 minutes by car from the Vatican.

Leo, 71, kept the meeting despite undergoing lung cancer surgery on October 13. He is still recovering but addressed the crowd before the games began.

The pope, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a degree in mathematics. He noted that he grew up in Chicago hearing the Notre Dame fight song, Go Irish, but reminded the crowd that Prevost attended Villanova.

"The pope does not take sides," Leo said, laughing. "But Prevost has another opinion. We will not do that now."

During the visit, Leo engaged with players from both schools. He shot a golden basketball presented by the Villanova women's team. When Notre Dame players gave him a jersey and another ball, he climbed onto his podium to gain height against the taller athletes. He posed with a sign that read, "Pope Leo, Play like a champion today," a reference to a famous Notre Dame sign.

Leo also made the V sign for Villanova as fans chanted Let's Go Nova. He spoke in English after initially starting in Italian, urging the groups to use the competition to build relationships.

"In any competition, members of two teams, even when they have a competitive rivalry, are certainly not enemies," Leo said. He encouraged fans to meet one another while cheering passionately. The games will be played on All Saints' Day, a feast day that the Church teaches calls for seeking holiness in all aspects of life, including sport.

Rev. Robert Dowd, president of Notre Dame, acknowledged that Villanova holds an advantage with the pope as an alumnus. He called the gathering in Rome wonderful and said Leo would be a bridge builder during the games. Rev. Peter M. Donohue, president of Villanova, said the team felt extra pride but noted that the game result was not the main point of the trip.

Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia held a private mass for fans at St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday morning. The service included all elements of a papal mass and was broadcast live by Vatican Media. Leo, a Chicago White Sox fan, previously joked on a flight to France that 90% of the crowd in Rome would be from Villanova.