Pope Leo XIV Jokes, Plans Charity Tennis Match with Andre Agassi

Pope Leo XIV, recently elected as the 267th Pope, has revealed his passion for tennis and describes himself as an amateur player eager to return to the sport. During a media event, he humorously declined to include top-ranked player Jannik Sinner in a proposed charity tennis match, making a pun on Sinner's surname. Sinner, who recently returned to competition after a doping suspension related to inadvertent steroid exposure, acknowledged the Pope's interest positively. The Pope also expressed openness to playing alongside tennis legend Andre Agassi, who is set to become a studio analyst for the 2025 French Open. This newfound papal interest in tennis contrasts with Pope Francis's well-known love for soccer, potentially boosting tennis's popularity among Catholic followers. The playful exchange between the Pope and Sinner has attracted significant media attention, highlighting a unique cultural intersection between sport and religion.