Villanova’s men’s basketball team arrived in Rome early Thursday ahead of Sunday’s season-opening doubleheader against Notre Dame, a trip that will combine college basketball with a visit to the Vatican and Pope Leo XIV.
The Wildcats traveled with Villanova’s women’s team on a charter flight. The four teams and about 7,000 traveling fans are scheduled to attend a private audience with Leo on Saturday, Oct. 31, one day before the games.
Villanova coach Kevin Willard said the significance of the visit became clearer when the team landed. Leo graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. The pope is the university’s most prominent alumnus, Willard said.
“At first, I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal, but when we landed, you understand he is our best alumnus and most notable alumnus. He’s also the most famous person on earth.”
The team had already driven past the Colosseum on the way to practice and planned to visit the Spanish Steps. Villanova guard Jake Fiegen said the trip reflected the opportunities basketball has created for the players.
“It’s crazy, the things that basketball has led us to do.”
Villanova’s roster includes Luigi Suigo, a 7-foot-3 freshman center from Italy. The 19-year-old is described as a projected NBA draft lottery pick and has taken on an informal role as the team’s guide during its stay in the country.
Trip schedule
- Saturday, Oct. 31: The four teams and their traveling fans are scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV.
- Sunday, Nov. 1: Villanova and Notre Dame will play in a season-opening men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader in Rome.
Fiegen said Suigo has helped the players adjust to local customs, including by warning them against treating meatballs as a typical topping for pasta. The team’s arrival also gave Villanova players their first chance to take in several of Rome’s landmarks before turning its attention to the game.
The Rome trip carries a personal connection for Suigo as an Italian player representing an American university, while the visit has a direct institutional connection through Leo’s Villanova background. For Willard’s team, the first game of the season will come after the Vatican audience and the group’s brief introduction to the city.
