The world's best tennis player met with the Pope.

The Italian tennis player spoke with the new Pope

The world number one, Italian tennis player Yannick Sinner, discussed tennis with the new Pope Leo XIV. Sinner gifted the pontiff a racket and a ball. Pope Leo XIV jokingly asked the tennis player if he could play at Wimbledon. Sinner suggested that he play tennis. However, Pope Leo XIV declined.

«We will definitely break something here! Better not», – said the Pope.

The meeting was also attended by the player's father and the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi. Previously, the new Pope, American Cardinal Robert Prevo, had mentioned that he considered himself a hobbyist tennis player.

Meeting with the new Pope

On May 8, Robert Prevo from the USA was announced as the new Pope Leo XIV. He became the first American pontiff in history. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. leader Donald Trump have already congratulated the newly elected American Pope. Robert Prevo is an American who spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and is relatively unknown on the world stage.

Shortly before this, white smoke had risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. This indicated that during the voting, the cardinals had elected a new Pope.

On the first day of the conclave, black smoke was rising from the chimney, indicating that the cardinals could not reach an agreement. Before the conclave began, the cardinals took solemn oaths to maintain strict secrecy – violations of which are punishable by excommunication.

During Yannick Sinner's conversation with the new Pope, interesting moments arose when the pontiff asked the tennis player about his ability to play at Wimbledon. It is also important to note that the election of an American Pope has caused some public resonance, as it has been a historic event. Many are already looking forward to the first steps of the new Pontiff and his influence on global politics and Church activities.