Rev. Robert P. Hagan first met the man who would become Pope Leo XIV 27 years ago at what he described as an \u201cAugustinian spiritual bootcamp.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the future pope, Robert Prevost, was \u201ca very, very smart man. Really gifted, very articulate, speaks multiple languages, has traveled the world as a missionary.\u201d He was also \u201ca very relatable, warm, friendly, approachable friend,\u201d someone familiarly known as Father Bob.<\/p>\n
And there is one other thing about the first U.S. citizen to become pope: he loves hoops, especially Villanova hoops.<\/p>\n
The pope is a graduate of Villanova University, where Father Hagan is a senior associate athletic director and a long-serving team chaplain for Villanova football and men\u2019s basketball programs. Hagan shared his memories of Pope Leo in an interview with The Athletic Friday, giving insight into the man from Chicago who has risen to become the leader of the world\u2019s estimated 1.4 billion Catholics.<\/p>\n
The two have kept in touch via email and text (yes, the Pope texts) over the years, and Hagan said Pope Leo would weigh in on the Wildcats\u2019 wins when they saw each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of fun watching the Knicks because Jalen (Brunson) and Josh (Hart) and Donte (DiVincenzo) was there and now Mikal (Bridges) is there,\u201d Hagan said. \u201cI think that Pope Leo will still keep an eye on the Nova Knicks. I think he\u2019ll still keep an eye on the Wildcats, and I think he\u2019ll be very proud of not just who they are but the way that they play with a certain spirit and unselfishness.\u201d<\/p>\n
News of the Pope\u2019s basketball allegiance even reached Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who quipped about the ex-Nova players on his team: \u201cNow they can be forgiven for their sins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom Thibodeau’s thoughts on the new Pope being a Villanova graduate:<\/p>\n
“Now they can be forgiven for their sins” \ud83d\ude2d pic.twitter.com\/rUv6CaLlnt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Aside from basketball, many sports fans were wondering if the Chicago native had a particular rooting interest in other sports. When it comes to MLB fandom, Prevost\u2019s brother John and a Vatican spokesperson both confirmed to NBC News<\/a> that Pope Leo roots for the White Sox.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was never, ever a Cubs fan,\u201d John Prevost said in an interview with local Chicago news outlet WGN9. The Chicago Sun-Times published a photo<\/a> of Pope Leo at a White Sox game during the 2005 World Series. (He was also caught on video in a World Series game broadcast<\/a>).<\/p>\n Pope Leo spotted on the 2005 World Series broadcast<\/p>\n [image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Razzball (@razzball.bsky.social<\/a>) May 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM<\/a><\/p>\n Beyond sports, it appears that Pope Leo has varied interests. While speaking with NBC Chicago<\/a>, John Prevost said that he and his brother regularly play Wordle and Words With Friends, and added that Pope Leo watched Oscar-winning movie \u201cConclave\u201d right before experiencing the real thing.<\/p>\n And Hagan said Pope Leo enjoys tennis and reading, though his stance on pizza has not yet been revealed.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that he likes to cook,\u201d Father Rob said. \u201cHe would often cook for the brothers and they found him to be a good cook.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, would you look at that\u2026 Congratulations to Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com\/U5DJ7TOyDr<\/a><\/p>\n