Pope Leo XIV Receives Jannik Sinner at the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV, known for his fondness for tennis, received this Wednesday Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, number one in the world, along with the president of the Italian Tennis Federation (FITP), Angelo Binaghi, and their families, according to Vatican sources.
The meeting took place in the rooms adjacent to the Paul VI Hall, where the pontiff received Sinner with a broad smile. During the meeting, the Pope congratulated the tennis player on his recent victory at the Rome Masters 1,000.
“Yes, if we get it,” replied the Italian tennis player.
Jannik Sinner
The Pope and Sinner exchanged a few words, including a conversation about the German language, spoken by the tennis player’s family. Sinner gifted the Pope with a tennis racket, similar to the one he uses in his matches.
Subsequently, the Pope received the membership card from the Italian Tennis Federation and photographs were taken with Sinner and the trophies that the tennis player brought to the Vatican.
This meeting takes place after the Pope, in a previous audience, joked about the possibility of participating in a charity tennis tournament, mentioning Sinner in a jocular tone.
Sinner, who was on a rest day from the Rome Masters 1,000 tournament, was accompanied by his parents, Hanspeter and Siglinde, as well as the president of the Federation.
