{"id":520134,"date":"2026-06-26T20:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T20:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/520134\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T20:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T20:55:12","slug":"pope-leo-xiv-stays-fit-at-70-with-20-minute-workouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/520134\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV Stays Fit at 70 With 20-Minute Workouts"},"content":{"rendered":"

’20 minute AMRAP of a dumbbell circuit and a bit of cardio to finish’. This is the sort of thing you’d be unsurprised to hear on any gym floor. Slightly less expected? Hearing them in the same sentence as \u2018the Pope\u2019.<\/p>\n

But according to Rome Reports<\/a> \u2013 a Rome-based news agency specialising in coverage of the Vatican \u2013 70 year old Pope Leo XIV appears to be a properly fitness-conscious pontiff.<\/p>\n

Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost was already known to enjoy sport and exercise. As a cardinal, he reportedly trained at Omega Fitness Club, a gym in Rome\u2019s Borgo neighbourhood, not far from St Peter\u2019s Square, around three times a week. According to his former trainer, Valerio Masella, Prevost wasn\u2019t looking for anything miraculous. He just showed up, asked what he could do with the time he had, and got on with it.<\/p>\n

Masella recalls the then-cardinal arriving at the gym and asking: \u2018Today I have 20 minutes. What should we do?\u2019 Other days, it might be half an hour. Either way, the work got done.<\/p>\n

And while we don\u2019t have Pope Leo\u2019s full programme \u2013 no confirmed sets, reps, loads, progression model or papal bench press PB \u2013 Masella says his training included cardio machines<\/a>, stationary bikes<\/a> and treadmills<\/a> to build cardiovascular endurance, alongside machines and free weights.<\/p>\n

Apologies if you were hoping for a miracle Vatican muscle-building plan. But this information, though sparse, points to the sort of unsexy, repeatable training most busy men would benefit from: get your heart rate up, apply the principles of strength training to your entire body, look after your posture and stop waiting for the perfect one-hour window before you do anything.<\/p>\n

Something like this simple 30 minute dumbbell-only workout<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prevost\u2019s sporting habits go beyond the gym, too. The American pontiff has admitted<\/a> that during breaks at Castel Gandolfo, he uses the time to unwind and exercise, taking part in ‘a bit of tennis, a bit of swimming.\u2019 He is also said to be a strong tennis player, using the game for exercise, stress relief and, importantly, the simple joy of playing.<\/p>\n

Now, according to Rome Reports, Pope Leo could be taking that habit back behind Vatican walls. The outlet says his newly renovated Apostolic Palace residence will include a spacious home gym.<\/p>\n

So, no, we still don\u2019t know how much the Pope can bench. But we do know this: even when he only had 20 minutes, he still trained. And for most of us, that\u2019s some divine advice.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one thing Kori Sampson knows, it\u2019s how to optimise your body composition for performance. To tap into his knowledge as an elite athlete and coach, we asked him to create a 4-week plan to help you move faster, recover quicker and keep pushing when the fatigue sets in \u2013 all while improving your muscle-to-fat ratio.<\/p>\n

Ready to build muscle, burn fat and come out the other side looking, feeling and performing better? Click here<\/a> to get 14 days of free access to the plan via the Men\u2019s Health app.<\/p>\n

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