Pope Leo XIV met with top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner on Wednesday at the Vatican, where the Italian player presented the pope with a tennis racket and offered to play a friendly match. The meeting took place on an off day for Sinner at the Italian Open.
Leo, the first American pope, is known for his passion for tennis and had previously mentioned his interest in a charity match when suggested by a journalist. However, he had jokingly remarked earlier in the week, “we can’t invite Sinner,” referencing the English meaning of Sinner’s last name.
By Wednesday, the mood had shifted to a more lighthearted tone. “It’s an honor,” Sinner said in Italian as he and his parents entered the Vatican’s reception room. He handed the pope a racket and a ball, suggesting they share a quick volley. The pope, however, looked around at the room’s antiques and declined, saying, “Better not.”
During their conversation, Leo, who is 69 and from Chicago, made a playful comment about his white cassock and its suitability for Wimbledon, possibly hinting at the strict all-white dress code of the prestigious tournament. The pope asked how the Italian Open was going, to which Sinner replied, “Now I’m in the game,” noting that it had been a tough start for him at the tournament.
Sinner, who is making his return to tennis after serving a three-month ban for an accidental doping violation, will compete in a quarterfinal match on Thursday. He aims to become the first Italian man to win the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
During the meeting, Angelo Binaghi, head of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, presented Pope Leo with an honorary federation card. Binaghi expressed his pride in the pope’s love for tennis and hopes for a future match between the two. The pope and Sinner also posed for photos in front of the Davis Cup trophy, which Sinner helped Italy win for the second consecutive year, as well as the Billie Jean King Cup, which Italy won in 2024.
Earlier in the week, after Leo’s joke about not inviting Sinner, the tennis star commented that it was “a good thing for us tennis players” that the new pope enjoys the sport. In addition to his love for tennis, Pope Leo is also a dedicated fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was a lifelong supporter of the San Lorenzo soccer club in Buenos Aires.
