Pope Leo XIV receives Graz99ers delegation after title win
Thursday 5th November 2026 on 06:15 in
Austria
Pope Leo XIV received a delegation from Austrian ice hockey champions the Graz99ers on Wednesday, ORF reported. The team presented him with gifts and a 20,000 euro donation for one of the Papal Missions.
The Graz team became champions of the ICE Hockey League for the first time last season. The delegation included Styrian diocesan bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, coach Dan Lacroix, club president Herbert Jerich, general manager Bernd Vollmann and captain Manuel Ganahl.
The Graz99ers were the first Austrian ice hockey team to visit the Pope and the fourth Austrian sports delegation to do so, after the Austrian Ski Federation, Special Olympics and SK Rapid.
The gifts included a specially made orange jersey from the team’s Champions Hockey League edition, bearing the name LEO XIV and number 99, and a Graz99ers scarf. Jerich and his family also presented a certificate for the donation.
Leo XIV wished the team success in defending its title. Ganahl called the meeting a great honour, saying he could hardly believe it and would tell his great-grandchildren about it. Jerich described the experience as incredible, while Vollmann said the recognition was a source of gratitude and motivation.