Galetto, Prevost’s former classmate turned fellow priest, said Prevost’s years saw the beginning of Rollie Massimino’s reign. The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame coach arrived at Villanova in 1973, going on to lead the NCAA champion 1984-85 Wildcats team.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is a Villanova graduate. He is the first American pope elected in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Villanova University alumnus Cardinal Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, was elected as the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics and succeeds Pope Francis.