Villanova Basketball has officially touched down in Rome.
The Wildcats are preparing to take on Notre Dame on Sunday to tip off the 2026-27 college basketball season.
Head coach Kevin Willard led Villanova off the plan on Thursday morning ahead of the first game of the season.
“At first, I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal, but when we landed, you understand that he is our best alumnus and most notable alumnus,” Willard said via AP News. “He is also the most famous person on Earth.”
Willard, of course, is talking about Pope Leo XIV. He graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. Pope Leo is scheduled to hold a private audience of about 7,000 people on Saturday.
Villanova also plans to visit the Spanish Steps and already drove past the Colosseum on the way to practice.
For newcomer Luigi Suigo, this is an early homecoming and a chance for him to play his first game in a Villanova uniform in a familiar place.
Villanova will begin the season on Sunday at 9:30am against Notre Dame.
