Napoli visit Pope Leo XIV at Vatican City after winning Serie A title

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Napoli, Italy's Serie A champions, to the Vatican on Tuesday. He joked about his football loyalties during their visit.

Napoli won their fourth "Scudetto" on Friday. They secured a 2-0 victory over Cagliari. This win allowed them to edge out Inter Milan by one point.

The team, led by Giovanni Di Lorenzo, visited the pope after a parade in Naples. The open-top bus parade celebrated their championship victory.

The pope mentioned that the press claims he is an AS Roma fan. He said, "Not everything you read in the press is true."

Leo is the first pope from the U.S. He enjoys sports like tennis and has been described as an AS Roma supporter.

Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis presented him with a blue jersey. The jersey was signed by players and had "Papa Leone XIV" on it.

De Laurentiis remarked, "You are a No. 10, so you are a great striker." The pope chuckled and replied with a simple "thank you."

Coach Antonio Conte knelt and kissed the Pope's hand during the meeting. The pope recognized him from television appearances.

In his speech, Pope Leo emphasized teamwork and collaboration in sports. He highlighted its educational value for young people.