Pope Leo has told the Villanova and Notre Dame basketball teams that he remains neutral between the two programs, according to an Associated Press report. The statement comes as both university teams maintain connections to the Catholic Church, with Villanova being an Augustinian institution and Notre Dame a Holy Cross university.
However, a figure identified as Prevost reportedly has other ideas about the matter, though details were not specified in the initial report. The interaction highlights the cultural significance of college basketball at Catholic universities in the United States.
Andrew Dampf and Nicole Winfield reported the story for the Associated Press on October 31, 2026.
