World No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner had a memorable meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday morning at the Vatican. The two shared laughter and lighthearted exchanges during a private audience in the rooms behind the Paul VI Hall.
Their meeting was sparked by a humorous comment two days earlier. During a conversation with a journalist, Pope Leo XIV joked about organizing a charity tennis match. When the reporter mentioned veteran player Andre Agassi, the Pope replied with a smile, “As long as he doesn’t bring Sinner,” playing on the tennis champion’s surname.
On Wednesday, the joke became reality when Sinner, accompanied by his parents Hanspeter and Siglinde, met the Pontiff in person. Also present was Angelo Binaghi, President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation.
During the meeting, Sinner presented the Pope with a tennis racket and a Federation membership card. Binaghi brought the Davis Cup trophy, recently won by Italy’s men’s national team with Sinner as the star player, and the Billie Jean King Cup won by the women’s national team.
Sinner, from South Tyrol, a German-speaking region of Italy, has risen to fame as Italy’s top tennis player in recent years. His success is especially notable, as Italy has not traditionally produced many top players in men’s tennis.
“It was an immense honour to meet Pope Leo XIV,” Sinner said, visibly moved. He also expressed his joy at the Pope’s personal connection to tennis, which the Pontiff played during his time in Peru.
Binaghi added, “We felt all the passion that Pope Leo XIV has for our sport. This filled us with pride.”
This meeting was one of the Pope’s first private audiences. Interestingly, Sinner visited the Vatican before Italy’s top political figures, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella.
Related topics:
