Pope Leo welcomed delegations from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Villanova Wildcats basketball teams at the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican on October 31, 2026, ahead of the opening of the U.S. college basketball season.
The Pope held a basketball, received a jersey, and posed for photos with both teams, making a victory sign with the Villanova delegation. The event marked a lighthearted moment as the two rival programs prepared for the new NCAA season.
