On this May 9, 2026, Pope Leo XIV received in audience in the Consistory Hall the players and technical staff of Inter Milan, the newly crowned champions of the 2025-2026 Serie A season. Last Sunday’s victory against Parma, which secured their 21st league title, continued in the Vatican, following a tradition that previously saw the Pontiff receive other champions, such as Napoli in 2025.

In an atmosphere of great joy, figures such as Lautaro Martínez (top scorer of the league), Marcus Thuram, and coach Cristian Chivu — who won the Scudetto in his first season — listened to the words of the Holy Father. Leo XIV joined in the celebration and emphasized that the success achieved was the result of “a lot of hard work, teamwork, discipline, and perseverance,” virtues upheld both in moments of euphoria and in difficult times.

More than champions: witnesses of values

The Pope did not limit himself to congratulating them on their sporting triumph. He invited the players to reflect on the experience and draw “a useful message, especially for the growth of young people.” Many children and adolescents now see them as “heroes” and role models to imitate, which gives them a responsibility that transcends the pitch.

“Many of them, in these days, see you as their ‘heroes,’ as models to imitate, and this confers upon you a responsibility that goes beyond performance and turns you, as athletes, into witnesses of values,” the Pontiff stressed.

The echo of John Paul II

Leo XIV recalled that in 1991 Saint John Paul II had already received Inter and given them a clear mission. Making that invitation his own, the current Pope asked them: “Make it so that many may recognize in you and in your behavior an authenticity and rectitude that withstand every test.”

With these words, the Pope’s message goes beyond football and speaks to society: elite athletes have the opportunity — and the responsibility — to embody solid values in an era that needs authentic references.

At the end, Leo XIV renewed his congratulations, blessed those present, and wished them all the best on their journey. An audience that will remain a beautiful culmination to an unforgettable season for the Nerazzurri team.