Pope Leo XIV met with members of SSC Napoli on Tuesday morning at the Vatican, days after the club clinched the Italian league title. In a short but meaningful address, the Pope praised the team for their success and stressed the importance of unity and moral values in sport.
Before his formal remarks, the Pope broke the ice with a joke, suggesting the players were hesitant to applaud him because some news reports claimed he supports rival club Roma.
Celebrating a United Effort
In his speech, Pope Leo congratulated the team for their championship win, calling it “a great celebration for all of Naples.” On Monday, more than 200,000 fans filled the streets of the city to honor the team during a massive victory parade.
The Pope emphasized that modern football has shifted away from focusing solely on individual talent. “Now we recognize that it’s the team who wins—the players, the coach, the staff, and the entire club,” he said.
He pointed to Napoli’s achievement as a perfect example of collaboration, saying, “This is what I want to underline the most: a team that works together, with each person using their talent for the good of all.”
Sport as a Moral Lesson
The Pope then spoke about the educational value of sports, especially for young people. He warned that when sports become driven purely by profit, they can lose the values that make them a positive influence.
“This is especially important for teenagers,” he said, encouraging parents and coaches to focus on the moral side of sports. “What’s at stake is the human development of young people,” he said.
A Blessing—and a Message from Rosa
To close the meeting, Pope Leo thanked the team for visiting and offered his blessing to the players and their families. He also passed along a message from one of his cooks.
“Congratulations also from a lady who’s been cooking for me recently, and who is from Naples,” he said. “She says: ‘Congratulations!’ … that’s from Rosa, a big fan.”
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