From a Papal Audience to a Spiritual Reflection, Villanova University Celebrates Catholic Mission and Vatican Connection Ahead of Eternal City Tip-Off

When the Villanova Wildcats and Notre Dame Fighting Irish compete at Rome's Palazzo dello Sport on November 1, 2026, the two NCAA basketball programs will make history as the first to play regular-season games in Italy. Yet the moment's significance extends far beyond the court.

As an Augustinian Catholic institution of higher education, Villanova University has worked for nearly two centuries to effect positive change, foster character and community and enact the message and teachings of the Gospel. By competing just six miles from Vatican City, the spiritual center of the Catholic Church, the Wildcats are paying homage to this powerful legacy-a vocation to not only shape minds, but uplift hearts.

"Ultimately our call is to go serve others," said the Rev. Robert Hagan, OSA, JD, '87 CLAS, prior provincial of the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, University trustee and chaplain to the men's basketball team, in comments to the Associated Press. "So that's… a mission that a lot of people can get on board with regardless of their faith persuasion."

Joined by the University of Notre Dame, Villanova took part in a series of events reflective of this distinctive calling, tradition and history leading into Sunday's games.

Mass at St. Peter's Basilica

Before a congregation of Villanova and Notre Dame students, alumni and community members, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia celebrated Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, one of the Catholic Church's holiest shrines. Amid the presentation of gifts and exchanges of the sign of peace, the service highlighted the fellowship underlying this weekend's contests and events, joining two of the nation's preeminent Catholic institutions in shared worship.

"A game brought us together and brought us here. But it's more than a game, more than just a sport," Archbishop Pérez reflected in his homily. "The greatest championship is actually the call to holiness, and our athletes know it well. They emulate for us what helps us to be holy: discipline, sacrifice, perseverance… They teach us, these young athletes, something very beautiful about the spiritual life."

Audience With His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV

Following Mass came what Villanova President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, '75 CLAS declared "no matter what happens on the court, the true highlight of our trip."

Met with a cascade of cheers and applause, Pope Leo XIV, leader of the Catholic Church and 1977 Villanova graduate, graciously welcomed his fellow Wildcats to the Eternal City at a special gathering within the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Room. For attendees, the visit was all at once moving, exciting and joyous-and a testament to the University's deep connection with its most famous alumnus.

"I am pleased to welcome all of you to the Vatican as part of your pilgrimage to Rome," Pope Leo XIV said in his address to the assembled Villanova and Notre Dame community members. "There are many activities occurring during your visit, including of course the basketball games that will take place tomorrow between the teams from your universities.

"In this regard, given the enthusiasm and widespread interest surrounding these games, we can see the potential for sport to play an impactful role both in the life of an academic community as well as in the wider society. Various Christian authors throughout the centuries, including a number of my predecessors, have noted the many praiseworthy effects that result from participation in athletic activities.

"No one is born a champion, just as no one is born a saint. Rather, holiness requires a daily training and love. In this regard, Christians are called to run in the race of life with the objective of winning an imperishable crown of glory. I pray that the activities which comprise your pilgrimage… will serve as a reminder that our true goal, beyond emerging victorious in any one event, is to win the prize of everlasting life."

Sports and Spirituality Reflection at the Augustinianum

After visiting with the Pope, members of the Villanova and Notre Dame communities gathered for a reflection on sports and spirituality at the Augustinianum, a pontifical institute in Rome under the supervision of the Order of St. Augustine.

Titled "Win or Lose, Be Fully Alive," the discussion was led by Villanova's Ed Hastings, PhD, '73, assistant teaching professor of Theology and Religious Studies, and David Walsh '15 MA, campus minister for sports and spirituality, alongside Notre Dame's Assistant Vice President of Campus Ministry Rev. Peter McCormick, CSC. Throughout, the speakers addressed how athletics, as either a competitor or spectator, can be an opportunity to encounter God and better understand who God is calling us to be.

"Winning is great. I promise you, I never went on a field or in a gym content with losing," Dr. Hastings, who played for the 1971 Villanova basketball team that reached the Final Four, told The Philadelphia Inquirerahead of the talk. "But through the hard times, I've learned that losing-if we use it well-can be the very thing that helps us develop the most spiritually."

Special Olympics Clinic at the Palazzo dello Sport

Outside of the Augustinianum, the spiritual and communal power of sports could be seen in practice, with Villanova and Notre Dame hosting Special Olympics athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities for a clinic at the Palazzo dello Sport.

Led by Villanova's Jay Wright, two-time NCAA champion and retired William B. Finneran Endowed Men's Basketball Coach, and Notre Dame's Pat Garrity, general manager of the men's and women's basketball squads, the event centered on teamwork, sportsmanship and having fun. As part of the session, the Special Olympians were joined by athletes from Athletica Vaticana, the official sports club of Vatican City, on the court that will host Sunday's contests-playing together, sharing their love for the game of basketball and building friendships.

Lasting Memories in the Eternal City

Beyond filling pews and attending panel discussions, Villanovans exemplified the University's values in their interactions with locals and visitors alike. Wherever Blue and White could be seen, a spirit of camaraderie and enthusiasm was evident, with smiles ready and "V's" consistently up.

Even in anticipation of the Wildcats' contests with the Fighting Irish, members of the Villanova community could find cause for celebration, gratitude and reverence. In remarks to Fox Sports, Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric Roedl '97 VSB gave voice to the prevailing sentiment surrounding the games and gatherings in Rome.

"It's something that really transcends sport, given our Augustinian mission here at Villanova and the opportunity to bring the Villanova community to the Vatican and celebrate our mission with Pope Leo," said Roedl. "To do it through sport, with basketball being as important a part of the DNA and culture of Villanova, it's… pretty special."

"This entire experience came together because two Catholic universities saw an opportunity to do something that was about much more than basketball," echoed Father Donohue, in a speech delivered before the Pope and the Villanova and Notre Dame communities. "The games may have given us the reason to make the trip, but what brought us together is something much deeper: our faith, our shared mission and our values that we hope our students carry with them as they leave our campuses.

"Tomorrow, we will cheer. We will compete. But today we are simply grateful," continued the University president. "Grateful to be together, grateful for the faith that unites us, grateful for the opportunity to share this remarkable experience and especially grateful to you, Your Holiness, for making this extraordinary moment in our lives."