This is Carlos Alcaraz, the world's number two tennis player. At just 22 years old, he has climbed to the top of the sport's greatest stars.
At the U.S. Open, a priest blessed him – a very unusual sight to see among sports players.
Less than a week after being elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV received a visit from the world's number one tennis player: Italian Jannik Sinner.
It was an occasion on which the Pope demonstrated his great passion for the sport.
The ball. If you want to play a little…
But here… Better not. Let’s leave it.
Better not.
This tennis court you see is located in the Augustinian General Curia, just a few meters from the Pope's residence in the Vatican.
FR. JOSEPH FARRELL
General Assistant for North America
(He) would comes over and prays with us every day, and at least once a week would go back up into the garden and play tennis. He's a very good tennis player. He plays for the sport, he plays for exercise, for stress relief, and also just for the joy of playing.
But that is not all. In the days leading up to the conclave, then-Cardinal Robert Prevost went to the order's curia to play tennis.
It is a sport that has undoubtedly occupied a large part of his life. During his pontificate, he may not stop practicing it either.
The faithful are aware of this, and if not, look at what happened at this general audience.
A ping-pong table, which they had given to the pontiff, was brought to the Paul VI Hall.
AM
TR: GS
