Football fan Pope meets top stars
Pope Francis has cheered fellow Argentine Lionel Messi and other soccer stars as he led a rally of sorts at the Vatican for Argentina and Italy’s national teams ahead of their eagerly awaited friendly match.
Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, is an avid soccer fan who roots for the Saints of San Lorenzo back in Buenos Aires. Since his election as pope in March he has accumulated a growing collection of soccer jerseys tossed to him by fans at his public appearances. He got two more on Tuesday: an Argentine and an Italian team jersey, each one signed by the players.
