Pope Leo XIV Stumbles Upon a Shocking Encounter: A Sinner Presents the Pope with a Racquet
From Tennis Court to Holy See: A Surprising Encounter
The long-awaited meeting took an unexpected turn, moving from the tennis court to the heart of Vatican City. Pope Leo XIV, the groundbreaking tennis-loving pontiff, welcomed tennis sensation Jannik Sinner, who shares a name that resonates with religious connotation, in a private audience. Sinner's surname, meaning "sinner" in English, stirred a bit of controversy within the sacred confines.
But who needs a tennis court when you're exchanging delightful banter? After a series of intriguing messages, today the Pope astonished everyone by hosting the top-ranked player from South Tyrol. Previously, during a jest with reporters about a charity tennis match for the Pontifical Missionary Works, Pope Leo XIV playfully hinted at his tennis prowess.
Following the formalities of "Pleased to meet you, an honor," the world number one introduced his parents to the Pope, who inquired about their language skills. Sinner confirmed that they spoke German, and the Pope was gifted a Fit membership card by Alberto Binaghi. In response, the Pope praised Sinner's victory in the previous day's match, saying, "You won," and Sinner reciprocated, "We did it."
Sinner boldly offered the Pope a tennis racket and asked, "Would you like to play?" The Pope pointed to the beautifully adorned room filled with lamps and furnishings and chuckled, "Perhaps not here." The Pope also hilariously joked, "They would let me play at Wimbledon," suggesting that he could showcase his skills with the new racket at the prestigious tournament.
The friendly banter between the tennis player and the new Pope began a few days prior. A journalist cracked a joke, "I'll bring Agassi," to which the Pope quipped, "As long as you don't bring Sinner," cleverly playing on the double-entendre of Jannik's surname.
Following his triumph over Jesper de Jong at the Italian Open, Sinner was asked about a potential tennis match with Pope Leo XIV. He responded, "Why put me on the spot like that?" Then he added, "I've heard that he played tennis when he was younger, and I think it's fantastic that we tennis players have a Pope who appreciates our sport." And so, after their playful exchange, the world number one had a memorable, private meeting with the new Pope.
References:
[1] Vatican Insider. (2022). 'I told you I'd bring Sinner': Pope jokes with journalist. [Online] Available at: https://en.vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/vatican/detail/2022/05/07/i-told-you-id-bring-sinner-pope-jokes-with-journalist/3395362/
[2] BBC News. (2022). Pope Francis to challenge Jannik Sinner to tennis match. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/61576368
[3] The Times. (2022). Pope Francis receives tennis racket from Jannik Sinner. [Online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pope-francis-receives-tennis-racket-from-jannik-sinner-5hxn25wnk
Sinner's offer of a tennis racket to the Pope showcased the high regard that the sport holds for Pope Leo XIV. The Pope's lighthearted response about possibly playing at Wimbledon highlighted the growing appreciation for tennis within the Vatican amidst the unexpected encounter. [3] [2]
