“When sport becomes a business, it [...] can even become anti-educational,” warned Leo XIV as he welcomed the SSC Napoli football (soccer) club, newly crowned Italian champions, to the Vatican on May 27, 2025. The new pope, known for his passion for sports, urged that priority be given to the “human growth of the young” in professional sports.
Described by those close to him as a supporter of one of the rival clubs, AS Roma, the Pope introduced the meeting in a joking tone. He suggested that the 25 Napoli players might not have wanted “to applaud because the press says I'm a Rome fan… [...] This is what the press says. Not everything you read in the press is true,” he added.
The history of relations between the team from Rome — fifth in the league this year — and Naples has been marked by fierce rivalry in recent decades.
During the audience, the Pope warmly congratulated the athletes from the Mediterranean city's club. They are celebrating their fourth victory in the Italian first division championship – Serie A – after those in 1987, 1990, and 2023.
He also conveyed the best wishes of his current cook, “who is from Naples and [...] would also have liked to be here, Mrs. Rosa, who is a big fan!”
“When sport becomes a business”
The pontiff emphasized the educational aspect of this sport, so popular in many regions of the world and a favorite of young people. Football (soccer) is also often criticized for its excesses, such as the exorbitant salaries of athletes and the proliferation of championships for commercial reasons and to boost TV ratings.
“When sport becomes a business, it risks losing the values that make it educational, and can even become anti-educational,” warned the pope.
Particularly concerned about adolescents, Leo XIV called on parents and sports officials to ensure “the moral quality of the experience of sport at competitive level, because the human growth of the young is at stake.”
“I think we understand each other, and there is no need for many words,” he added.
Throughout his speech, the head of the Catholic Church affirmed that teamwork, in which “the talents of the individuals are placed at the service of the whole,” was the “most important” aspect of Napoli's success.
"What counts the most is not the one-off exploit, or the extraordinary performance of a champion. The Championship is won by the team, and when I say ‘team,’ I mean the players, the trainer with the entire team, and the sports association," he said.
Like his predecessor Francis in 2023, Pope Leo received the number 10 jersey, usually reserved for the playmaker, from SSC Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. The number was once worn by Diego Maradona, former captain of the team and a true legend in Campania. The blue jersey printed with his name in Italian, “Papa Leone XIV,” was presented to the pontiff in a glass case, autographed by all the players.
Since his election on May 8, Leo XIV has also welcomed another sports star: Italian Jannik Sinner, the world's number one tennis player, a sport that the pontiff enjoys playing as an amateur.
