By Victor Kanayo
A priest and Vicar General of the Augustinians, Father Joseph Farrell, has revealed that Pope Leo XIV, who became the first US leader of the global Catholic Church, plays tennis passionately.
Fr Farrell, who has known him for decades, also disclosed that the new Pope is a fan of AS Roma football club.
The new Pope, 69, is known as a supporter of the White Sox baseball team from his hometown of Chicago, and the Vatican’s news outlet has published a picture of him riding a horse in Peru, where he spent many years as a missionary.
According to Fr Farrell, while speaking to Reuters, “He’s a regular tennis player. He would come up and play on our grounds once a week at least.”
He said, “He’s (AS) Roma all the way.”
The club did not directly confirm it but welcomed the new pontiff after his election on Thursday.
“AS Roma joins in rejoicing with Rome and the world following the election of Pope Leo XIV, and wishes him all the very best for his papacy,” it wrote on X.
