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Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrimage

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV received a delegation of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame during an audience in the Paul VI Hall on October 31, 2026. The Pope welcomed the group as part of their pilgrimage to Rome, which included the university basketball teams scheduled to play against each other the following day at the PalaEur in Rome for the opening of university championships.

During the meeting, the Pope greeted Villanova President Father Peter Donohue and Notre Dame President Father Robert Dowd. He spoke about the role of sports in academic communities and society, describing athletics as a concrete way to bring people together and overcome distances created by technology. He noted that the Church views sport as a tool to promote human dignity, integral development, education, and relationships, specifically highlighting values such as fraternity, solidarity, and peace.

The Pope also addressed the personal nature of growth, stating that neither champions nor saints are born, but rather require daily practice. He encouraged athletes and supporters to move beyond competition to meet, respect, and support one another.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

3 sources22 reports12 languages

Read it in Tiếng Việt · Italiano · HY · Deutsch · English · Slovenščina · العربية · Shqip · Português · Français · Čeština · Slovenčina

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 8:32 AM PT · 7 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as new apostolic visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  4. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI must not decide on human life
  5. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  6. Oct 31, 7:54 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of Dicastery for Communication
  7. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  8. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  9. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  10. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  11. Oct 31, 7:22 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  13. Oct 31, 6:18 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV receives representatives of Italian municipalities hit by earthquake
  14. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  15. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  16. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  17. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  18. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  19. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  20. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  21. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  22. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
  23. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV encourages young people to live without fear
  24. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Bishop of Soissons
  25. Oct 31, 3:30 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV tells US universities that nobody is born a saint

Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims

Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV meets Villanova University and Notre Dame students

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 31, 4:11 AM Vatican News Tiếng Việt Đức Thánh Cha tiếp phái đoàn Đại học Villanova và Đại học Notre Dame
  2. Oct 31, 4:59 AM Holy See Press Office Italiano Udienza ai partecipanti al pellegrinaggio della “Villanova University” e della “University of Notre Dame”
  3. Oct 31, 4:59 AM Vatican News HY Լեւոն ԺԴ. ընդունեց Վիլանովայի եւ Նոթրը Տամի համալսարաններու ուխտաւորները
  4. Oct 31, 4:36 AM Vatican News Deutsch Papst empfängt US-Universitäten: Sport als Schule für Gemeinschaft
  5. Oct 31, 4:30 AM ACI Stampa Italiano Leone XIV, l’atletica insegna cooperazione e condivisione reciproca necessarie in un'epoca tecnologica
  6. Oct 31, 4:40 AM Vatican News Italiano Leone XIV: lo sport è maestro di cooperazione e condivisione
  7. Oct 31, 5:04 AM Vatican News Audience with Villanova University and University of Notre Dame, October 31, 2026 – Pope Leo XIV
  8. Oct 31, 5:46 AM Vatican News Slovenščina Papež Leon XIV.: Šport združuje, vzgaja za sodelovanje in podelitev
  9. Oct 31, 6:02 AM Vatican News العربية البابا يستقبل وفد حجّ من جامعة فيلانوفا وجامعة نوتردام
  10. Oct 31, 4:00 AM The Holy See To a Pilgrimage from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame (31 October 2026)
  11. Oct 31, 6:15 AM Vatican News Shqip Leoni XIV: në një kohë largësish, sporti i bashkon njerëzit
  12. Oct 31, 5:00 AM Vatican News Português Leão XIV: o esporte é mestre em cooperação e partilha
  13. Oct 31, 7:14 AM Crux Pope Leo tells Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams he is neutral. Prevost has other ideas
  14. Oct 31, 7:42 AM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Leo XIV. ist begeisterter Sportfan / Gutgelaunter Papst scherzt mit Basketballern seiner früheren Uni
  15. Oct 31, 7:14 AM L'Osservatore Romano Italiano Papa Leone XIV alle Università statunitensi di Villanova e Notre Dame - Non si nasce campioni né santi serve allenamento quotidiano
  16. Oct 31, 4:00 AM The Holy See Italiano Delegazioni della “Villanova University”, e della “University of Notre Dame” (31 ottobre 2026)
  17. Oct 31, 7:18 AM Canção Nova Português Papa Leão XIV aos atletas: o verdadeiro prêmio é a vida eterna
  18. Oct 31, 3:13 AM Vatican News Français Pour Léon XIV, «personne ne naît champion, tout comme personne ne naît saint»
  19. Oct 31, 7:14 AM L'Osservatore Romano Italiano Papa Leone XIV alle Università statunitensi di Villanova e Notre Dame - Non si nasce campioni né santi, serve allenamento quotidiano
  20. Oct 31, 5:28 AM Vatican News Čeština Papež Lev XIV.: Sport i svatost vyžadují denní trénink
  21. Oct 31, 5:54 AM Vatican News Slovenčina Lev XIV. americkým univerzitám: Svätosť si vyžaduje každodenný tréning v láske
  22. Oct 31, 7:30 AM TK KBS Slovenčina Lev XIV. americkým univerzitám: Svätosť si vyžaduje každodenný tréning v láske

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 8:32 AM PT · 7 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as new apostolic visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  4. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI must not decide on human life
  5. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  6. Oct 31, 7:54 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of Dicastery for Communication
  7. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  8. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  9. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  10. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  11. Oct 31, 7:22 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  13. Oct 31, 6:18 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV receives representatives of Italian municipalities hit by earthquake
  14. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  15. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  16. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  17. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  18. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  19. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  20. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  21. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  22. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
  23. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV encourages young people to live without fear
  24. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Bishop of Soissons
  25. Oct 31, 3:30 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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