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NewsWPLG Local 10October 29, 2026Miami-Dade County

Villanova basketball teams arrive in Rome for season opener and papal audience

Photo: WPLG Local 10

Villanova University's men's and women's basketball teams arrived in Rome on Thursday morning for a Sunday season-opening doubleheader against Notre Dame. The trip features tourist visits, local sightseeing led by freshman center Luigi Suigo, and a scheduled private audience with Pope Leo XIV on Saturday for the four teams and 7,000 traveling fans.

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Why It Matters

Villanova student-athletes and 7,000 traveling fans are participating in an international athletic and cultural trip that includes a private papal audience with Pope Leo XIV, an alumnus of the Augustinian university.

Key Facts

  • Villanova University's men's and women's basketball teams arrived in Rome via charter flight on Thursday morning.
  • The teams are scheduled to play a season-opening college basketball doubleheader against Notre Dame on Sunday.
  • Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus who graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, is scheduled to hold a private audience with the four teams and 7,000 traveling fans on Saturday.
  • Freshman center Luigi Suigo is serving as the team's unofficial tour guide during the trip.
  • Notre Dame's women's basketball team is ranked No. 13 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, while Villanova is unranked.
  • Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo is recognized as last season's Naismith national defensive player of the year and a top WNBA prospect.

Who's Mentioned

locationOntario“Province where Milton is located”PersonJasmine Bascoe“Villanova junior guard from Milton, Ontario”OrganizationNotre Dame“Opposing basketball teams for the season opener”locationSpanish Steps“Roman landmark planned for a visit”PersonHannah Hidalgo“Notre Dame guard and Naismith national defensive player of the year”PersonLuigi Suigo“Villanova 7-foot-3 freshman center and unofficial tour guide”PersonKevin Willard“Villanova men's basketball coach”PersonPope Leo XIV“Villanova alumnus scheduled to hold a private audience with the teams and fans”locationColosseum“Roman landmark the team drove past”locationPhiladelphia“Geographic area near the Augustinian school”PersonJake Fiegen“Villanova guard”locationRome“Host city for the basketball games and papal audience”locationMilton“Hometown of Jasmine Bascoe”locationItaly“Country hosting the games and tours”OrganizationVillanova“University whose men's and women's basketball teams traveled to Italy”PersonDenise Dillon“Villanova women's coach”OrganizationThe Associated Press“Publisher of the preseason Top 25 women's basketball poll”