Villanova University, the Catholic Augustinian college near Philadelphia, is turning its basketball season into a celebration of faith and tradition. On Sunday, the Wildcats’ men’s and women’s teams will travel to Rome for the Eternal City Tip‑Off, a double‑header against Notre Dame just six miles from the Vatican.
Faith‑filled kickoff
“We certainly have a bigger footprint there now than we used to,” said Rev. Peter Donohue, Villanova’s president. “People do know who we are, just because it’s the pope’s school.” The university’s pride stems from Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian alumnus who earned a mathematics degree in 1977 and was elected pope in 2025.
The Pope’s connection has already boosted Villanova’s profile. Applications rose more than 10 % during the first admissions cycle after his election, a surge the university calls the “Pope Leo effect.” The school also recently hosted a sustainability conference in Rome and awarded a cardinal the inaugural Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal.
Game day in the Eternal City
About 6,000 Villanova fans and 1,000 Notre Dame supporters are expected to travel to Rome for the matchup. Pope Leo XIV, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, plans to hold a private audience for the teams and fans inside the Vatican, health permitting. Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez will celebrate a private Mass for the athletes in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“The voice of the people of God will be very strong on the Villanova side,” the Pope said in September, underscoring the spiritual significance of the event for the university community.
Alumni and campus pride
Former Wildcats, including Ed Hastings—who played on Villanova’s 1971 team—will join a sold‑out panel in Rome to discuss the intersection of sports and spirituality. “I learned a lot about myself through sports,” Hastings said, quoting St. Augustine, the founder of the Augustinian order.
Students on campus are also feeling the ripple effect. Senior Mike Whaley recalled serving Mass for the future pope during a previous Vatican trip, while junior Cathleen Kershner joked that her grandmother texted, “Your pope! He’s your pope!”
Beyond the court
Villanova continues to expand its global Catholic outreach, offering more study‑abroad and internship opportunities in Italy. The university recently opened a new campus on the site of a shuttered Catholic college, further strengthening its educational mission.
President Donohue, who once chaired the theater department and boasts a background in tap dancing, likened his role to “the biggest acting job” he’s ever had, emphasizing the importance of fundraising and donor relations in supporting both the university’s academic and athletic excellence.
While many universities face financial strain, Villanova’s strategic investments and the heightened visibility from the Pope’s alumni status have helped it weather economic pressures better than most.
Looking ahead
Villanova’s basketball programs have a storied history, with men’s national championships in 1985, 2016 and 2018, and alumni contributing to the New York Knicks’ recent NBA title. The upcoming Rome tip‑off adds another chapter to a legacy that blends athletic achievement with Catholic tradition.
“We’re very proud of him, and very proud that he’s an Augustinian, and very proud that he is leading the church,” Donohue said. “Whatever we can do to help him, we’re trying to do that.”
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
