Pope Leo XIV champions teamwork in Napoli's scudetto win

• Pope Leo XIV met with Napoli players in the Vatican.
• He emphasised the importance of teamwork and the educational role of sport.
• Napoli is celebrating their fourth Italian championship in history.

Pope Leo XIV, a known sports enthusiast, received the delegation of the Napoli football club on Tuesday, who had recently won the Italian championship. The meeting took place in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, where the Pope congratulated the team on their success. Leo XIV highlighted that winning the championship is the result of long and hard work by the entire team.

During his speech, the Pope noted the crucial role of teamwork in achieving success. "The championship is won by the team, and when I say 'team' I mean the players, the coach with the entire team, and the sports club," said Leo XIV. He stressed that Napoli's success is an example of how individual talents can serve the community.

Pope Leo XIV also noted the educational dimension of sport, warning against its commercialisation. "Unfortunately, when sport becomes business, it risks losing the values that make it educational and can even become dis-educational," warned the leader of the Catholic Church. The Pope called on parents and sports managers to care for the moral qualities of sport, especially in the context of youth.

At the end of the audience, Pope Leo XIV again congratulated the Napoli team and expressed hope that their success would be an inspiration to others. He emphasised that sport should always serve the development of youth and promote values such as cooperation and solidarity.

Tuesday was the fifth day of celebrations for Napoli's so-called scudetto victory. On Monday, a parade took place in Naples with the participation of players and club management, attended by over 200,000 people. This is already the club's fourth Italian championship, making this success exceptional for the entire city.