A Pope's Soccer Surprise: Leo XIV and the Italian Soccer Scene

The world has long known that Pope Leo XIV is a fan of the Chicago White Sox and enjoys a good game of tennis. However, there's been a lot of curiosity about which Italian soccer team he supports. This mystery deepened when he met with the Italian champions, Napoli. Leo XIV met with Napoli privately in the Vatican. The team had just won their fourth Serie A title. During this meeting, Leo XIV made a joke about not being a fan of Roma, which is Napoli's rival. He also mentioned that he follows Italian soccer, but he didn't confirm any specific team allegiance. The meeting was full of interesting moments. When Leo XIV entered the room, there was a slight pause before the applause started. He joked about it, saying that maybe they didn't clap because the media says he's a Roma fan. He also pointed out that not everything in the media is true. Napoli's president, Aurelio Del Laurentiis, gave Leo XIV a special gift. It was a Napoli jersey with the number 10, the same number worn by the legendary Diego Maradona. The jersey had Leo's name on it and was signed by all the players. The pope had some wise words to share. He talked about how soccer is more than just a game. It's about teamwork and working together for a common goal. He also warned about how sports can lose its educational value when it becomes too much about business. This meeting with Napoli wasn't Leo's first with a sports star. Just a couple of weeks before, he had met with top tennis player Jannik Sinner. It seems Leo XIV is quite the sports enthusiast. However, his exact soccer team preferences remain a mystery.