Sport is back in the Vatican: for the first time since the early years of Johannes Paul II. Is there with Leo XIV. Another pope who likes to be active in sports even at an advanced age.
Tennis is the passion of the 69-year-old, who was voted the new Pope on Thursday evening.
Passion tennis
In an interview published by its Augustinian Order in September 2023 Robert Francis Prevost Modest as a quite amateur tennis player. However, he also complained of playing a lack of possibilities. “Since I left Peru, I only had a few opportunities to practice, so I’m looking forward to going back on the pitch again,” he said almost a year and a half ago, shortly after moving from Peru to the Vatican.
“Secret” skiers from Poland
Should Leo XIV also play as Pope Tennis, he could arouse memories of John Paul II, who was in office in 1978 and was in office until 2005. Karol Wojtyła went skiing in the beginning of his pontificate, he is said to have secretly sneaked out of the Vatican. In an advanced age, the Poland was no longer able to ski.
“Skier” Wojtyła with “tennis player” Prevost
His successor Joseph Ratzinger alias Benedikt XVI. Was never an active athlete.
The Argentinian, who died on Easter Monday Pope Francis Again, the big football fan was considered. Jorge Mario Bergoglio Enthus about his childhood The Argentine first division club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro, a club from Buenos Aires, whose fans call itself “Santos” – the saints.
Here the fans of San Lorenzo pay homage to Pope Francis
In the time of his pontificate, the world championship title of the Argentine national football team falls around Lionel Messi 2022.
His successor Leo XIV will look for tennis courts in the Vatican. As a further passion for movement, he also called “long walks”, which will now be difficult for him in the small Vatican state.