Pope Leo XIV Meets with Napoli Football Club Following Title Victory
In a meeting at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV has congratulated the Italian football club SSC Napoli on their recent league title victory. The Pope stressed the importance of teamwork and the "moral quality" of sport, praising the team for their achievement.
According to a report from Vatican News, the Pope met with members of SSC Napoli on Tuesday morning, following the team’s victory on Friday. In a brief speech, Pope Leo reflected on the importance of teamwork and the values that make sport educational.
The Pope began by joking with the players, suggesting that they hadn’t wanted to applaud for him because the press had reported that he was a Roma fan. He then read his address, beginning by congratulating the team for their victory, which he called "a great celebration for all of Naples." Vatican News reports that some 200,000 fans thronged the city’s streets on Monday for Napoli’s victory parade.
A Team Victory
The Pope emphasised that it’s the team, not individual players, that wins a championship. "In the past, when a team won a trophy, attention was paid to the performances and skills of individual players," he said. "Today, however, we recognise that it’s the team who wins the championship … the players, the manager and his staff, and the sports club as a whole." Vatican News quotes the Pope as saying that this is the aspect of Napoli’s victory that he wanted to emphasise the most: "the example of a team—in the broad sense—that works together, with individual talents put at the service of the whole."
The Pope’s meeting with Napoli comes after the team won their fourth-ever league title. Vatican News reports that the Pope’s address was warmly received by the players, who were accompanied by their manager, Antonio Conte.
Sport’s Moral Dimension
Pope Leo also discussed the "educational" role of sport, warning that when sport becomes a business, it risks losing the values that make it educational. "Unfortunately, when sport becomes a business, it risks losing the values that make it educational, and it can even become harmful from that point of view," he said. The Pope emphasised the importance of paying close attention to the moral quality of the sporting experience, particularly for young people.
The Pope’s words were echoed by Vatican News, which reports that the Pope’s meeting with Napoli was a celebration of the team’s achievement and a reminder of the importance of teamwork and fair play.
Best Wishes from Rosa
The Pope concluded his address by thanking the squad for their visit, congratulating them again on their victory, and offering his blessing to the team members and their families. He also passed on best wishes from Rosa, one of his cooks, who is from Naples and a big fan of the team. "Congratulations also from a lady who’s been cooking for me recently, and who is from Naples. She says: ‘Congratulations!’ … that’s from Rosa, a big fan," the Pope said.
The meeting between Pope Leo and Napoli is a testament to the enduring connection between sport and faith. As Vatican News reports, the Pope’s words of encouragement and praise for the team are a reminder of the importance of teamwork, fair play, and respect for others in sport.
