Pope Leo coach surprises about his choice for the next Pontifex

Pope Leo coach surprises about his choice for the next Pontifex

An Italian personal trainer reported on his surprise when he learned that his long -time client was chosen as the new Pope of 1.4 billion Catholics. "Here in the gym nobody knew that Robert, now Leo XIV trained, ”told Valerio Masella, 26, the Italian newspaper IL messaggero .

training of the new Pope

The Pope, then Cardinal Robert Prevost, regularly trained in the gym near the Vatican, as IL Messaggero reported, and often trained several times a week. Masella had suspected that the reserved 'Robert' from the gym was a professor or academic. The clergyman certainly did not appear in his cardinal skirt for a training session, the trainer said.

a likeable client

"He came in sporty clothes. However, he was always friendly, never nervous or irritated. A really relaxed and balanced person," said Masella. It was only when Pope Leo XIV appeared on the Balcony of the Petal Basilica that the Groschen fell.

surprise and recognition

"When I saw him on TV, I recognized him immediately. I couldn't believe it," reported Masella. "Basically, I trained the future Pontifex: it is incredible, but for me he was a customer like any other, and he behaved like all other members of this fitness studio," he added.

excellent fitness

What about his physical condition? "Exceptional for a man of his age ...," said Masella of the Italian newspaper. "Typical for someone who never stopped sport, with an excellent ratio of muscle mass, bone mass and fat mass."

joy in the fitness community

The President and founder of the fitness studio, Alessandro Tamburlani, expressed his enthusiasm when he learned that he already knew the new Pope, in a separate interview with the Catholic news agency. "My joy was twice or triple. Joy about finally having a new Holy Father, after the time of grief that we had to go through. And joy that he is a good person and also someone who we already knew here in the gym," said Tamburlani, founder of the Omega Fitness Club in the center of Rome.

model for a healthy lifestyle

The founder of the fitness studio added that Pope Leo's healthy lifestyle set a good example for everyone and praised his ability to combine "spirituality and sporting training".

sporting interests of the Pope

The Pope Leo XIV enthusiastic by tennis met at the beginning of this week with the world ranking Jannik Sinner . The Italian tennis star gave the Pontifex a racket that it might be able to use on the Vatican's own tennis court.

Family secrets of the Pope

The Pope from Chicago is also a proud supporter of the baseball team White Sox, like Brother John Prevost in a Interview with CNN.