Vatican

The meeting between Sinner and Pope Leo: 'Shall we play a little?

The federation also took the trophies won in Malaga by the Italian national men's and women's 2024 Davis Cup and Billie JK Cup teams with it to the Pope

14 May 2025

2' min read

Jannik Sinner and a delegation of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation were received by Pope Leo XIV. Also accompanying Sinner to the Pope were Jannik's parents, his father Hanspeter and mother Siglinde.

In recent days, at the end of a meeting with journalists, Pope Leo XIV -a great tennis enthusiast- had replied as follows to those who asked him to organise a charity match: 'Of course it's fine,' the Pontiff had said. "I'll bring Agassi," had been the joking reply of a journalist. And at that point, the Pope had closed the speech by saying 'just don't bring Sinner', playing on a double meaning: because Jannik is the world number one and because in English Sinner's surname means 'sinner' From Sinner's comment in the press conference: 'Playing with the Pope? Why do you have to put me on the spot'.

ANSA / VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT

Sinner from the Pope with Davis and Billie Jean King Cup trophies

In this morning's private audience where Pope Leo XIV received Jannik Sinner and Fitp president Angelo Binaghi, the federation also took the trophies won in Malaga by the Italian national men's and women's 2024 Davis Cup and Billie JK Cup teams to the Pontiff.

Bruni: 'Note the Pope's passion for sport'

'Yes, the Pope's passion for sport is well known'. With these words, the director of the Vatican press room, Matteo Bruni, confirms that Jannik Sinner and Fitp President Alberto Binaghi, with their respective families, were received by the Pope in the rooms behind the Paul VI Hall.

Sinner gives racket to Leo XIV

Jannik Sinner presented Pope Leo XIV with a tennis racket during a meeting at the Vatican this morning. The world number 1 was accompanied by his parents and Federation President Angelo Binaghi. "My racket," said Sinner, "this one is very similar but the colour is different."

A frame extracted from a video distributed by Vatican Media shows Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner giving a tennis racket to the Pope. The champion had his own and a ball and asked Leone: "Do you want to play?" The Pope showed him the room with lamps and other furniture and laughingly replied: "Let's leave it, it's better not to here". Leone also added laughing: "At Wimbledon they would let me...", meaning that on the famous British court they would let him play with the new racket. Rome, 14 May 2025. ANSA / VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT

Sinner to the Pope, 'shall we play?' and Leo, 'here better not'

Jannik Sinner gave the Pope a tennis racket. The champion had his and also a ball and asked Leo: "Would you like to play?". The Pope showed him the room with lamps and other furniture, and laughing, replied: 'Never mind, better not here'. Leone also laughingly added: 'At Wimbledon they would let me...', meaning that on the famous British court they would let him play with his new racket.

Sinner to the Pope: 'at the Internationals we are in the game'

At the meeting with the Pope Sinner was accompanied by his parents. After the initial greetings, 'pleased, honoured' said the champion, the world number one presented his father and mother to the Pontiff who asked if they spoke German and Sinner confirmed 'Yes, we speak German'. Alberto Binaghi then presented the Fit membership card to Leo XIV. The Pontiff then congratulated him on yesterday's match ('You won,' said Prevost, and Sinner replied: 'We did it') and asked how the tournament in Rome was going. 'We are in the game, at the beginning of the tournament it was difficult but with three matches we took,' Sinner said.