Archbishop Gänswein would like to play tennis with Pope Leo XIV. "Anytime and with pleasure!"

German Archbishop Gänswein wants to play tennis against the Pope

Pope Leo is known for his strong backhand, and Archbishop Gänswein also loves tennis. In 2006, he was secretly photographed playing near the Vatican – now he would like to compete against th

The former confidant of Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, would like to play tennis with Pope Leo XIV. "Anytime and with pleasure!" the 68-year-old told the Catholic weekly newspaper "Die Tagespost." Gänswein currently serves as the Holy See's Ambassador to the Baltic States.

According to Italian media, Pope Leo XIV is considered an avid tennis player with a particularly strong backhand. Gänswein also has a passion for the sport: The tabloid "Chi" published secret footage of him playing tennis near the Vatican in 2006 – his playing style was described at the time as powerful and aggressive.

 

Gänswein was secretary to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and later Pope Benedict XVI for decades. However, he had a strained relationship with Pope Francis. He now explicitly welcomed the election of Leo XIV as a new beginning. He spoke to the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" of a "phase of arbitrariness" that was now coming to an end. Leo XIV will build bridges, but in a different style than his predecessor, Francis. Above all, the Church needs "clarity in doctrine," Gänswein said—the confusion of recent years must be overcome.

Source

A video of the court where the then Cardinal Prevost played tennis.

Pope Francis was given a tennis racket