After the death of Pope Francis, many people wondered who would lead the Catholic Church next. The papal conclave chose Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV.
Before the white smoke rose over the Vatican signaling his election, Robert Prevost was an ordinary gym-goer. He blended in with the morning crowd at a gym in Rome.
Robert Prevost, born in Chicago, was known simply as “Robert” to the staff at Omega Gym. This gym is located in Rome’s upscale Prati district. He was quiet and polite. He wore modest sportswear, worked hard, smiled often, and always stayed positive. No one at the gym suspected he held a powerful position in the Vatican.
When Prevost’s name was announced as the new pope, his personal trainer Valerio Masella was shocked. Valerio, 26, had trained Prevost for two years.
“When he appeared at the window in St. Peter’s Square, I recognized him immediately. I couldn’t believe it! I trained the new Pontiff. To me, he was just a client like any other,” Valerio told the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.
Prevost is originally from Peru. He came to Rome in 2023 to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops. At the gym, no one knew he was a cardinal.
“I thought he was a teacher or an academic,” Valerio said. “He was smart, quiet, and never talked about his work. But pope? I never imagined.”
Valerio also shared details about Prevost’s workout routine.
The future pope was dedicated to exercise. He trained two to three times a week. He always came in the morning with a warm, friendly attitude and stayed committed to his fitness.
“He kept a regular training schedule,” Valerio told the Associated Press. “He was always friendly and smiling but reserved.”
Here are some details of his workouts:
Aerobic Warm-Up
Each session began with cardio. Prevost preferred either a brisk walk on the treadmill or an intense ride on a stationary bike. His treadmill faced a mural of Roman landmarks, including St. Peter’s Basilica. This warm-up helped improve his endurance and prepare his body for strength training.
Benefits of brisk walking: helps control weight, improves heart health, raises energy, and reduces stress.
Benefits of stationary bike: builds cardiovascular endurance gently on the joints and strengthens leg muscles.
“We started slow and then increased intensity,” Valerio said. “He especially liked resistance on the bike — like climbing a steep hill.”
Muscle Strengthening and Postural Training
After cardio, Prevost worked on strength and stability. He used resistance bands, dumbbells, and bodyweight exercises. His focus was on core, back, and shoulders—important for good posture and movement.
“For his age, he had great endurance and a healthy body,” Valerio said. “He was in excellent shape.”
Tennis
Besides gym workouts, Pope Leo XIV enjoyed tennis. Sometimes he played on a court with a view of St. Peter’s dome. He saw tennis as exercise and a way to build patience and focus. He called himself an amateur tennis player.
Shortly after his election, in a meeting with Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner, he joked that he wouldn’t want to face the world number one in a match.
Pope Leo XIV is not the first sporty pope. Pope John Paul II was known for hiking and skiing.
Now, as pope, Leo XIV’s commitment to health and discipline may inspire many people to stay fit and focused—both physically and spiritually.
