Pope Leo XIV jokes he stays neutral on Villanova-Notre Dame rivalry
Source: CBS News · All CBS News reports
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Summary
CBS News aired a brief clip of Pope Leo XIV addressing delegations from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame at the Vatican on October 31, 2026. The pope, formerly Robert Prevost, referenced his Chicago upbringing where “Go Irish” was common and his Villanova graduation, joking that while the pope remains neutral on their basketball rivalry, “Prevost has another opinion.” The teams were in Rome for the Eternal City Tip-Off doubleheader on November 1 to open the college basketball season.
The report drew on Vatican-provided footage and quotes, with the transcript matching accounts in Vatican News and other outlets. It highlighted the pope’s broader remarks encouraging sports as a path to saintliness and noting that rivals are “certainly not enemies,” alongside the audience of about 7,000 fans after a private Mass.
Editorial Assessment
The clip is factually precise and captures the pope’s playful tone without exaggeration. Viewers receive the core joke and minimal biographical context, which aligns with verified details: Leo XIV graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a math degree and grew up in the Chicago area with exposure to Notre Dame fandom. What is missing is fuller context from the full address, such as his emphasis on sports fostering fraternity amid technological distance and the event’s origins tied to his election as the first American pope. The light framing presents an approachable pontiff but could leave viewers unaware of the deeper spiritual message on holiness and rivalry. No partisan slant or sourcing issues are present.
Key Moments
Growing up on the south side of Chicago, we often heard 'Go Irish,' but Prevost graduated from Villanova so the pope doesn't take sides; Prevost has another opinion.
Exact quote confirmed by Vatican News, CBS News, USA Today, and multiple other outlets covering the October 31, 2026 audience.
Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova graduate who grew up near Notre Dame territory in the Chicago area.
Leo (Robert Prevost) earned a BS in mathematics from Villanova in 1977; he was born in Chicago and raised in Dolton, Illinois, with regional ties to Notre Dame fandom.
The pope urged teams to see rivals as not enemies and use sports to grow in saintliness.
Additional remarks from the same Vatican audience, reported consistently across sources including Vatican News and CBS.
Sources Consulted
- Pope Leo tells Villanova, Notre Dame basketball teams he is neutral
- Pope Leo meets with Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams at the Vatican
- Pope: In an age marked by distance, sports bring people together
- Dribbles, Photos And Jokes: Pope Visits With Teams Ahead Of Eternal City Tip-Off
- Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova University alum
- Villanova University: the pope’s alma mater