NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedOctober 31, 2026Miami-Dade County
Pope Leo XIV holds private audience for Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams and fans in Rome
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed
Pope Leo XIV is holding a private audience at the Vatican for basketball teams and fans from Villanova and Notre Dame ahead of their college basketball season opener in Rome. About 7,000 people attended the Vatican audience hall Saturday following a special private Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The men's and women's teams from both schools will play a doubleheader Sunday at the Palazzo dello Sport for an event dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
Thousands of traveling college sports fans and players are participating in international athletic and religious events in Rome coinciding with All Saints' Day.
Key Facts
- Pope Leo XIV is holding a private audience on Saturday for basketball teams from Villanova and Notre Dame along with thousands of American fans.
- About 7,000 people streamed into the Paul VI audience hall inside the Vatican following a private Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
- The Villanova and Notre Dame men's and women's teams are playing a doubleheader at the 11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport on Sunday.
- The event is titled the Eternal City Tip-Off and was created to honor Pope Leo, who graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a mathematics degree.
- Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated a private English-language Mass for traveling fans on Saturday morning.
- Sunday's games coincide with All Saints' Day, a major Catholic holiday.
- Pope Leo noted that about 90% of the attendees coming to the match are estimated to be Villanova supporters and 10% Notre Dame supporters.
Who's Mentioned
locationFrance“Country visited on a recent papal trip”OrganizationChicago White Sox“Baseball team supported by Pope Leo”PersonRob Hagan“Villanova's longtime team chaplain”PersonRobert Dowd“President of Notre Dame”locationSouth Bend“Location of Notre Dame in Indiana”OrganizationNotre Dame“Participating Catholic university and basketball team”OrganizationPalazzo dello Sport“11,000-seat arena hosting the doubleheader”PersonPope Leo XIV“Pope and Villanova alumnus hosting the audience”OrganizationSt. Peter's Basilica“Location of private Mass celebrated for traveling fans”locationPhiladelphia“City near Villanova and home of Archbishop Perez”PersonNelson Perez“Philadelphia Archbishop who celebrated Mass”locationRome“Host city for the basketball games”OrganizationVillanova“Alma mater of Pope Leo and participating college basketball team”locationChicago“Birthplace of Pope Leo”locationVatican City“Location of the private audience and St. Peter's Basilica”