Pope Leo’s tennis pun on ‘Sinner’, Jannik Sinner responds with grace

In a rare blend of papal wit and sporting charm, newly elected Pope Leo XIV has made headlines not for a sermon, but for a tennis pun. During a cheerful exchange with reporters, the tennis-loving pontiff joked about a proposed charity match: “But we can’t invite Sinner”—a clever nod to both Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner and the religious connotation of the word “sinner”.

The moment triggered laughter in the room and quickly found its way to Sinner himself, who is currently competing at the Italian Open. With a grin, the 23-year-old replied: “Why do you have to make things difficult for me?” adding, “It’s nice that he [the Pope] enjoys tennis. Who knows? Maybe we’ll play one day.”

The light moment comes just as Sinner returns from a three-month suspension imposed by WADA for accidental ingestion of clostebol, a banned steroid found in a topical spray. Though sidelined temporarily, Sinner’s titles remain intact, and he’s now set to vie for his fourth major at the French Open on May 25.

The Pope’s comment might have been playful, but it reflects an unusual harmony between faith and sport—one that’s gotten the world talking.

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