There seems to be one thing the Pope loves as much as Catholicism, talking about Catholicism and organic chemistry, and that’s…ping pong.
The Killerspin World UnPlugNPlay Festival, held in the Vatican at the end of August, will feature three days of nerding out to technological advances and a lot of ping pong.
The rather peculiar event stems from some Pope Francis’ wishes to unplug from the digital world and spend quality time—that stuff mom’s been talking about—with the fam. And what better way than smashing forehands at grandma?
This year, though, for a cool $25,000, attendees have the opportunity to meet, take a photograph and quite possibly (not yet confirmed) play some ping pong with the Pope. The papal package, curated by If Only, includes tickets to the Killerspin festival, a private tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, dinner in the Vatican gardens and three days at spa in Sardinia. Plus, you’ll get a papal ping pong table—though no mention if it includes paddles with Francis’ face on it.
Proceeds from the package will go towards Best Buddies, a charity that provides socialization and employment opportunities to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Tom is a travel writer, part-time hitchhiker, and he’s currently trying to imitate Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but with more sunscreen and jorts.