Pope Leo XIV Inspires Notre Dame, Villanova to Go to Rome for Season-Opening Basketball Games

Notre Dame and Villanova will play a men's and women's basketball doubleheader in Rome to begin the 2026-27 season after being inspired by Pope Leo XIV.

Both schools announced Friday that the May 2025 election of Pope Leo XIV, who is a Villanova alumnus, served as inspiration for the upcoming set of international games, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

Notre Dame and Villanova are promoting the contests as an opportunity to celebrate their shared mission and heritage as Catholic schools, via ESPN.

"This is a special opportunity for our players and coaches to be part of a global event," Villanova men's head coach Kevin Willard said as part of Friday's announcement. "To represent Villanova in Rome to open our 2026-27 season is such a great honor. We appreciate the enormous effort that's gone into making it possible."

Attendees of the event will also have the opportunity for a shared Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, a planned papal audience with Pope Leo XIV before the games and private Vatican Museum tours.

The two contests are set to take place on Nov. 1.