Jannik Sinner Meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican in Lighthearted Visit

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Italy’s top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Wednesday, presenting the pontiff with a tennis racket and a playful invitation to play a match. The visit came during Sinner’s off day at the Italian Open.

Pope Leo XIV, marking his early days in office as the first American pope, had expressed enthusiasm for tennis and even indicated a willingness to participate in a charity match when a journalist raised the idea earlier in the week. In a humorous twist, Leo joked, “We can’t invite Sinner,” referencing the English meaning of Sinner’s last name. By the time Wednesday arrived, the playful quip seemed forgotten.

“It’s an honor,” Sinner said in Italian as he arrived at the Vatican with his parents. The three-time Grand Slam champion offered a racket and a ball to the pope and suggested a quick volley, but the pontiff opted against it, saying, “Better not” as he surveyed the historic ambience of the reception room.

During their chat, Leo, 69, joked about his white cassock fitting in at Wimbledon due to the tournament’s strict all-white dress code. He also inquired about Sinner’s performance in the Italian Open. “Now I’m in the game,” Sinner replied. “At the beginning of the tournament, it was a bit difficult.”

Looking ahead, Sinner is preparing for a quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud on Thursday, his first event since a suspension for a doping issue that was ultimately deemed accidental contamination. Sinner aims to become the first Italian man to clinch the Rome title since 1976, when Adriano Panatta achieved the feat.

During the audience, Angelo Binaghi, head of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, presented Pope Leo with an honorary federation card. “We all felt the passion that Leo XIV has for our sport and this filled us with pride,” Binaghi remarked. “We hope to embrace the Holy Father again soon, maybe on a tennis court.”

The visit concluded with Sinner and Leo posing for photos in front of the Davis Cup trophy, which Sinner helped Italy win last year. The room also showcased the Billie Jean King Cup trophy that Italy won in 2024, representing the largest women’s team event in tennis.

Earlier this week, in response to the pope’s jest about not inviting him, Sinner reflected on the positive attention tennis receives, saying it was “a good thing for us tennis players.” Alongside his love for tennis, Pope Leo XIV is known to be an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was a devoted supporter of the Buenos Aires soccer club San Lorenzo.