Pope Francis greeted Argentine and Italian squads ahead of the footballing giants' friendly in Rome this night.Albiceleste skipper Lionel Messi and Azzurri captain Gianluigi Buffon gave the head of the Catholic Church an olive
tree on Tuesday on behalf of the players ahead of the specially arranged
match at the Stadio Olimpico.The Pope, who is an Argentine but
has Italian heritage and resides in Vatican City following his
inauguration earlier in 2013, advised the two teams to remember their
responsibility as idols and put down the notion of football as a
business.
The pontiff said the players should pray for him to "play an honest game on the pitch that God had put him on".
Messi out of the match owing to injury said afterwards that players could spread the Pope's message by "always playing a beautiful game".
The players gave Pope Francis a shirt from each team with his name on it. The pontiff received a silver vase from the Argentines and an olive tree from the Italians, as well as a signed football.
Messi out of the match owing to injury said afterwards that players could spread the Pope's message by "always playing a beautiful game".
The players gave Pope Francis a shirt from each team with his name on it. The pontiff received a silver vase from the Argentines and an olive tree from the Italians, as well as a signed football.
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