The Catholic Church has a new Pope, Leo XIV… and he’s a Villanovan. You can follow him on Twitter at @drprevost (for now).
Here’s how social media reacted…
— VU Hoops (@VUhoops) May 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV in the 1977 Villanova yearbook pic.twitter.com/EBPyS7bXxF
— Publius (@TheFoyeEffect) May 8, 2025
First American Pope Robert Prevost is a 1977 @VillanovaU Grad ! Pope LeoXIV already celebrating with V’s Up ✌ pic.twitter.com/luyegZLXN8
— Chuck Everson (@ChuckCats41) May 8, 2025
Has a Pope ever re-tweeted about your National Championship-winning college basketball team? pic.twitter.com/fXEe02bte2
— VU Hoops (@VUhoops) May 8, 2025
Since 2001:
Big East – Popes – 1
Big 10 – Basketball Championships – 0— Pat (@pheiman01) May 8, 2025
Will this help recruiting
— Jason (@DarkMatters95) May 8, 2025
First American Pope Robert Prevost is a 1977 @VillanovaU Grad ! Pope LeoXIV already celebrating with V’s Up ✌ pic.twitter.com/luyegZLXN8
— Chuck Everson (@ChuckCats41) May 8, 2025
Walking across the Villanova campus. Church bells ringing, helicopters circling and students congregating outside the chapel. One priest “this is crazy!” Pretty cool
— Dana O’Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) May 8, 2025
Villanova’s Father Rob just made an appearance on CNN: pic.twitter.com/ITs2vx7gPD
— Dylan Johnson (@bydylanjohnson) May 8, 2025
— Friar Faithful (@PCFriarFaithful) May 8, 2025
How long will it take for Hart and Brunson to get the Pope on the podcast? @nyknicks @NovaMBB @CoachJayWright
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) May 8, 2025
Conclave recap pic.twitter.com/t79JcsvOTn
— No Context College Basketball (@ContextFreeCBB) May 8, 2025
If Villanova wins another National Championship will they get an invite to the Vatican?
— Brian Ewart (@Brian_Ewart) May 8, 2025
What a week for Villanova graduates pic.twitter.com/UHZesaME96
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 8, 2025
Power conferences by Popes:
SEC: 0
Big Ten: 0
Big 12: 0
ACC: 0
Big East: 1— Rob Reinhart (@RealRobReinhart) May 8, 2025
My heart is full with the election of Pope Leo XIV- we celebrate a truly extraordinary moment for our Church and beloved University. pic.twitter.com/Q7IjDV4COY
— Denise Dillon (@DeniseDillon) May 8, 2025
In the last 10 minutes, I have ascended to a new plane of insufferability that I did not previously know existed
— Chris – F40 (@ChrisFull40) May 8, 2025
Absolutely crying laughing at the pope illegally streaming Villanova vs. NJIT at 2 AM in November from Vatican City
— Matthew Leb (@Leb_Zeppelins) May 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV in the 1977 Villanova yearbook pic.twitter.com/EBPyS7bXxF
— Publius (@TheFoyeEffect) May 8, 2025
you couldn’t buy this level of fan engagement https://t.co/pCOUBQUinu
— Chris Lane (@chrisjjlane) May 8, 2025
Pope a Villanova Grad yea we up ✌ ‼️
— Kris Jenkins (@Smoove2you_) May 8, 2025
This is my new favorite pic pic.twitter.com/0uQuY7qsX2
— Reload has begun (@TheRoedlEra) May 8, 2025
Villanova officially has representation in Vatican City ⛪️ pic.twitter.com/w9VAuAPMBS
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 8, 2025
— Brad McGhee (@wbmcghee) May 8, 2025
It’s a great day to be a Wildcat. pic.twitter.com/KpgM5gBGlw
— Nova Hoops (@capj1344) May 8, 2025
Conferences with a Pope:
Big East – 1
The Rest – 0 pic.twitter.com/D4LWa3iSMa— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) May 8, 2025
Villanova on an epic run this week pic.twitter.com/TOnP2S8gSr
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 8, 2025
Villanova Pope! Villanova Pope! pic.twitter.com/dQyXCgbsSG
— Erin Treichler (@erinkeaveny) May 8, 2025
Desperate to know ASAP if we now have the first pope to have ever attended the Big East Tournament.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) May 8, 2025
Villlanova !!! God bless Pope Leo V/
— Maddy Siegrist (@20sMaddy) May 8, 2025
Turns out the CNN Catholic analyst overlapped at school with the new Pope and just referred to him as “Bob”
— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) May 8, 2025
— CraigZ (@craigzabransky) May 8, 2025
Safe to say @RyArch15 is excited https://t.co/fHxXtbCYFH pic.twitter.com/KN7QwdweBJ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 8, 2025
Breaking news: Pope Leo XIV is set to invite several programs to the Vatican Classic:
-Villanova
-La Salle
-Saint Joe’s
-DePaul
-Loyola ChicagoFull round robin format on the steps of Saint Peter’s Basilica, per sources. pic.twitter.com/v5TBaYN6PG
— Olney Fans (@TheGolaStandard) May 8, 2025
College of Cardinals: “See? This is why America cannot have nice things.” pic.twitter.com/TOwRZUdQAg
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) May 8, 2025
New stained glass window is currently being installed at St. Peter Basilica pic.twitter.com/2LvPbj8fFE
— Villanova Enthusiast (@NovaKnowsBall) May 8, 2025
In less than a year, Villanova University has acquired Cabrini University, Rosemont College, and the Vatican.
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) May 8, 2025
The pope being from Chicago but going to Villanova for undergrad is an enormous L for Notre Dame. Historic fumble. If we can’t recruit in our own backyard…
— Josh Bradley (@theSloopJoshB) May 8, 2025
A blessing for all Americans , @osavocations @VillanovaU, most importantly the World ! https://t.co/BCs896l1LK
— Jay Wright (@CoachJayWright) May 8, 2025
Everyone else gonna look real stupid in the alumni newsletter this year https://t.co/UDmoAT2tED
— Sunny (@sunnyright) May 8, 2025
Two months ago Villanova had:
– Kyle Neptune
– No PopeToday Villanova has:
– Kevin Willard
– Pope Leo XIVNot a bad run for the Wildcats!
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) May 8, 2025
Amazing stuff – the 1st American Pope attended @VillanovaU !!! https://t.co/bkjcU3hrMT
— George Halcovage III (@coachGH3) May 8, 2025