Napoli's Serie A triumph received a papal seal of approval on Tuesday as Pope Leo XIV hosted the champions at the Vatican.
He delivered warm words and a few laughs during a celebratory audience.
Fresh off their dramatic fourth Scudetto title secured by a narrow 2-0 win over Cagliari, Napoli's delegation, led by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and manager Antonio Conte, were received in Rome just a day after their jubilant open-top bus parade.
Pope Leo, the first pontiff from the United States and a known sports enthusiast, greeted the squad warmly, quipping:
"The press says I am an AS Roma fan, but you are welcome! Not everything you read in the press is true."
Chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis presented the Pope with a Napoli jersey bearing the No. 10 and "Papa Leone XIV," calling him "a great striker." Leo responded with a chuckle and a "thank you."
Manager Antonio Conte, described by De Laurentiis as "deeply Catholic," knelt and kissed the pontiff's hand, prompting Leo to say he had often seen him on TV.
In his remarks, Pope Leo emphasized the value of teamwork, perseverance, and the educational power of sport:
"The championship is won by the team... not by one champion's brilliance, but by everyone working together, players, the coach, the club."
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