It’s official: the Pope will be in the building.
When the Notre Dame and Villanova men’s and women’s basketball teams face off in Rome, Italy, to start the 2026-27 season on Sunday, Nov. 1, Pope Leo XIV will be in attendance. Per a press release from Notre Dame, “a planned audience with Pope Leo XIV [is] set to take place ahead of the game.”
It had been reported for months that Notre Dame and Villanova would be opening the season against each other in Italy, but it was unknown if the Pope would be in attendance. Friday’s press release making the games official confirmed that news.
These games happening were inspired by Pope Leo XIV being the first American-born pope, born and raised in Chicago. He went to college at Villanova and has been a sports fan his whole life, most famously for the Chicago White Sox. Video of him attending a 2005 World Series game the Sox played in went viral when he was first elected the new Pope.
“Pope Leo has spoken in such inspiring ways about the value of sport, emphasizing that sport is a ‘school of life’ that integrates the body, mind, and spirit, a vision both Notre Dame and Villanova wholeheartedly embrace,” said Notre Dame president Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. in a statement. “We are honored to join Villanova for what is sure to be the experience of a lifetime for our student-athletes and fans. We know well the transformative impact of spending time in a city that is so central to our faith and rich in history, having established Notre Dame Rome in 2014, which allows us to host hundreds of students and scholars from around the world each year.
“It’s exciting and most fitting to add athletic competitions to our many activities in Rome.”
Dubbed the “Eternal City Kick-Off,” two of the most prominent Catholic universities in the world will face off in the shadow of the Vatican. The men’s game between Notre Dame and Villanova will start at 9:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. in Rome) and air on Fox, with the women’s game to follow at noon ET (6 p.m. in Rome) and airing on FS1. Further details, including the venue and ticket info, will be released at a later date.
This will be the second time in four seasons that the Notre Dame women’s program opens on foreign soil. They began the 2023-24 campaign against South Carolina in Paris, France.
“We are incredibly excited to compete in Rome against Villanova in what will be a historic moment for collegiate basketball,” Irish women’s coach Niele Ivey said in a statement. “For me, this is about more than the game — it’s about giving our student-athletes a truly holistic experience. Opportunities like this have the power to be life-changing, expanding their perspective far beyond the court.”
It will be the first time ever that the Irish men’s program plays a regular season game internationally.
“We’re incredibly honored to be a part of the Eternal City Tip-Off and open our season in Rome,” men’s coach Micah Shrewsberry said in a statement. “This opportunity reflects what makes the University of Notre Dame unique — combining elite competition with meaningful global and cultural experiences. It’s a special chance for our student-athletes to represent our university on an international stage while growing in ways that extend far beyond basketball.”
Austin Hough is a sports editor within the Center for Community Journalism at USA Today Co., overseeing high school sports and Notre Dame athletics coverage for five Indiana newspapers. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough. Hough can be emailed at ahough@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Pope Leo XIV to attend Notre Dame, Villanova basketball opener in Rome
Reporting by Austin Hough, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
