Pope Leo XIV Receives Ping Pong Bat Gift During Vatican Audience

Vatican city: Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday received a ping pong bat as a gift and tried it out to the delight of the faithful attending his weekly general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Room. The Pope, known for his enthusiasm for tennis, playfully hit a ball into the air several times using the bat, which was adorned with his papal emblem.

According to Ansa News Agency, the gift was part of an initiative by the American company Killerspin of Chicago. The company is promoting a project called World UnPlugNPlay Day, which aims to revive gaming as a joyful, shared experience in the smartphone era. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Archbishop Robert Prevost of Chicago and Peru, has been an avid sports fan, particularly supporting his hometown White Sox baseball team.

Throughout his previous roles, Pope Leo XIV regularly engaged in tennis. However, it remains unclear if the 69-year-old continues to pursue these activities after ascending to the papacy.