The Vatican's new leader Leo XIV turned out to be a passionate football fan – Pope’s favorite club revealed!

The recently enthroned new pontiff of the Vatican, Leo XIV, in addition to his religious activities, has attracted public attention with his love for sports. Pope’s immense passion for football was revealed by his close friend, Bishop Giuseppe Pagano.

In an interview with journalists from the Italian news agency ANSA, Bishop Pagano spoke about the previously unknown interests of the pontiff and his deep love for football.

"Leo XIV is a person with many interests. Alongside culture and art, he is very passionate about sports, especially football. Whenever he has the opportunity, he prefers to go to the stadium and watch games live," the bishop emphasized.

According to Giuseppe Pagano, the pontiff has been a fan of the Italian club AS Roma for many years. This revelation came as a surprise to many.

At the same time, the AS Roma club enthusiastically welcomed the news that the Vatican’s new leader is a fan of their team. Currently, the club’s management is preparing a special gift for Leo XIV – a jersey with his name printed on it.

This news is expected to further strengthen the relationship between Italian football and the Vatican. In turn, the club’s leadership expressed their readiness to invite Leo XIV to their home matches and to provide all necessary conditions for his visits.

The pontiff’s passion for football has become an interesting and pleasant surprise for millions of football fans around the world. Now, together with Leo XIV, AS Roma is likely to gain even greater popularity, not only in Italy but also internationally.

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