Vatican, Oct. 11, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) met with members of the AC Ancona soccer team after his general audience on Wednesday, October 10. Reports on the meeting indicated accurately that the Pontiff had given the team his blessing-- and thereby added to the confusion caused by earlier reports that the Vatican had bought a controlling interest in the team.
AC Ancona, which plays in the 3rd division of Italy's professional league, was bought earlier this month by the Centro Sportivo Italiano, an organization of lay Catholics. The new owners immediately announced plans to make the team a model for ethical competition in soccer.
Numerous reports circulating in Italy had conveyed the inaccurate impression that the Vatican, or the Italian hierarchy had purchased the team-- prompting the Vatican press office to issue a clarification that while the Pope and the Italian bishops applaud such lay initiatives, they "have nothing to do with this project." The players' presence at a papal audience was arranged separately from the purchase of the team.
At the October 10 papal audience, members of AC Ancona presented Pope Benedict with a team jersey, carrying the number 16. They also gave the Pope a soccer ball signed by each team member.
Giovanni Langella, the captain of the squad, said that the meeting was "a great thrill." Questioned about the suggestion that players who are penalized with a red card should be asked to do social work, Langella replied, "I'll do it even if I'm not red-carded."
AC Ancona, which plays in the 3rd division of Italy's professional league, was bought earlier this month by the Centro Sportivo Italiano, an organization of lay Catholics. The new owners immediately announced plans to make the team a model for ethical competition in soccer.
Numerous reports circulating in Italy had conveyed the inaccurate impression that the Vatican, or the Italian hierarchy had purchased the team-- prompting the Vatican press office to issue a clarification that while the Pope and the Italian bishops applaud such lay initiatives, they "have nothing to do with this project." The players' presence at a papal audience was arranged separately from the purchase of the team.
At the October 10 papal audience, members of AC Ancona presented Pope Benedict with a team jersey, carrying the number 16. They also gave the Pope a soccer ball signed by each team member.
Giovanni Langella, the captain of the squad, said that the meeting was "a great thrill." Questioned about the suggestion that players who are penalized with a red card should be asked to do social work, Langella replied, "I'll do it even if I'm not red-carded."
2 comments:
What? No Catholic kick-ball team?!
Yeah! Why not kickball!
Post a Comment