Key Points
- A Rome-based personal trainer unknowingly coached Pope Leo XIV for two years, assuming he was an ordinary gym client.
- The Pope maintained a dedicated workout schedule and never revealed his religious position.
- His story highlights how influential leaders can lead simple, humble lives, even before assuming power.
A personal trainer in Rome was left speechless when he saw his former gym client appear on television—not as a teacher or professor, as he once assumed, but as the newly elected Pope.
A Gym Client Turned Global Spiritual Leader
For two years, 26-year-old personal trainer Valerio Masella worked with a quiet and disciplined gym-goer named “Robert.” He was polite, reserved, and committed to his workouts, blending into the background like any other gym member.
What Valerio did not know was that “Robert” was actually Robert Francis Prevost, a cardinal who would later be elected Pope Leo XIV, the 267th successor of Saint Peter.
“When he appeared at the window in St. Peter’s Square, I recognised him immediately. I couldn’t believe it! I trained the new Pontiff,” Valerio revealed to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.
He admitted that throughout their training sessions, neither he nor other gym members suspected that Robert was a cardinal.
A Pope Who Prioritises Fitness
The newly elected Pope followed a consistent workout routine, visiting the gym two to three times a week. He arrived dressed modestly, warmed up on a treadmill or bike, then moved on to muscle-strengthening exercises and posture training.
Tennis was also one of his favourite activities. He often played on a court overlooking St. Peter’s Basilica, once telling Valerio that the sport helped develop patience—a virtue he would later need in abundance as the leader of the Catholic Church.
Despite his dedication to exercise, Robert remained highly private. He never discussed his religious role, keeping interactions simple and friendly. “I thought he was a teacher or an academic because he was intelligent and quiet. But Pope? I never imagined,” Valerio admitted.
Humility in Everyday Life
Now known as Pope Leo XIV, the former missionary and pastor has become a symbol of humility—not only in his religious duties but also in his everyday habits. His simple lifestyle, which included maintaining a healthy routine with no special privileges, reflects his down-to-earth personality.
Valerio’s surprise encounter serves as a reminder that even the most powerful figures in the world can have the most ordinary routines. The Pope’s gym visits, postural exercises, and tennis matches demonstrate that discipline and humility extend beyond spiritual leadership and into personal well-being.
Though Valerio never imagined that his client would ascend to the papacy, he now proudly shares the story of how he unknowingly trained the head of the Catholic Church.
