Pope Leo XIV receives professional tennis player Jannik Sinner in the Vatican and asks for some sporting tips. The audience took place in the rooms attached to the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, and the Pope also met with Mr. Sinner's family and the President of the Italian Tennis… pic.twitter.com/RoYTvivEyR

The new pope, who was born in Chicago, said that tennis is his favorite sport. Pope Leo XIV, born and raised in Chicago, has captured global attention for two reasons: his historic role as the first American-born pontiff and his unexpected sports fandom.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Monday called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press” in an audience with some of the 6,000 journalists who descended on Rome to cover his election as the first American pontiff.