Soccer-loving pope sends ‘warmest greetings’ to World Cup players

L'Osservatore Romano

Hatian footballlers meet Pope Francis (2015)

Says a prayer that the tourney will favor international solidarity and peace

As a native of Argentina, Pope Francis is a big fan of soccer — no surprise there. He’s mentioned his devotion to the sport on many occasions, though almost always in a pope-ish context of expressing how sport can do a lot to build up unity and break down division, and form virtue along the way.

At the end of today’s general audience, he again showed his love for the sport:

Tomorrow the 2018 World Cup championship will begin in Russia. I wish to send my warmest greetings to the players and the organizers, as well as those who will be following via the social media this event that overcomes all boundaries. May this important sporting event become an opportunity for encounter, dialogue and fraternity between different cultures and religions, favouring solidarity and peace among nations.

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