A 12-member delegation of the Moser Medical Graz99ers, fresh off the franchise’s first title in its 27-year history, was received by Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday morning at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, becoming the first Austrian ice hockey club ever granted an audience with a pope.
The delegation, accompanied by Wilhelm Krautwaschl, the Diocesan Bishop of Styria, attended the pope’s general audience on the square before being received in a private audience by Leo XIV. Leading the group were club president Herbert Jerich, general manager Bernd Vollmann, head coach Dan Lacroix and Manuel Ganahl, one of the team’s captains.
Jerich presented the pope with a donation certificate for 20,000 euros designated for one of the Papal Missions, along with a custom-made orange jersey from the club’s current Champions Hockey League edition bearing the name “LEO XIV” and the number 99, plus a Graz99ers scarf. The pope, in good spirits, wished the team all the best for a successful defense of its title.
A First for Austrian Hockey at the Vatican
The visit marks a distinction: no Austrian ice hockey team had previously been received by a pope. Only a handful of Austrian sports delegations have earned the honor before, including the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV), Special Olympics and SK Rapid.
For the Graz99ers, the audience capped a year in which the club captured its first championship in its 27-year history. Jerich described the experience in emotional terms, saying the feelings could not be described and had to be lived, and that he felt like a different person afterward. He added that the pope was visibly pleased with the donation and the jersey and wished the club much success for the rest of the season.
Vollmann said the delegation was still under the deep impression of the day, adding that seeing the club’s work and successes recognized in such a form filled everyone with great gratitude and served as motivation for their future work.
Leo XIV, a Sports Fan
The audience fit a pattern established since Robert Francis Prevost became pope in the spring of 2025. The pontiff is considered sportbegeistert and still plays tennis himself, and has been called the “tennis pope” after receiving Italy’s Jannik Sinner shortly after his election. He is a fan of the White Sox from his hometown of Chicago, who have sent him a cap and jersey in the Vatican, and he supports AS Roma. Last weekend he received young basketball pilgrims from his former US university, Villanova. In June, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley from the US state of Carolina presented him with a jersey of the Stanley Cup winner Carolina Hurricanes bearing the number 14.
What the Club Highlighted in Rome
During the meeting, the Graz99ers emphasized the international, Staaten- und Völkerverbindende der ICE Hockey League, as well as the club’s broader family — its Juniors, women’s and para-Eishockey, and ongoing support of social and charitable projects.
The timing of the visit gave it added weight. Coming towards the end of the year with the win of their first Meistertitel in the 27-year club history, the recognition from the Vatican represents an honor and appreciation of very special significance.
Title Defense Underway
The pope’s wish for a successful title defense lands as the 99ers are active. The orange kit given to Leo XIV comes from this season’s Champions Hockey League edition, tying the Vatican visit directly to the club.
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