BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Pope Francis' love for soccer was a significant aspect of his pontificate. A lifelong supporter of the Argentine club San Lorenzo, he shared the belief that soccer is the most beautiful game in the world. Throughout his life, even until his passing at the age of 88, Francis used soccer as a metaphor for camaraderie, teamwork, and fellowship in a society increasingly dominated by individualism.

In 2019, during a gathering at the Vatican with Italian youth, soccer players, and coaches, Francis emphasized the importance of teamwork in soccer. “Soccer is a team sport. You can’t have fun alone,” he told the audience. He expressed that engaging in the sport positively impacts both the mind and heart, especially in a time marked by exasperating subjectivism. Growing up in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires, young Jorge Mario Bergoglio played soccer for hours with friends on local streets and dusty fields known as "potreros," though he modestly acknowledged his lack of skill, having earned the nickname "hard foot."

Francis inherited his passion for soccer from his family, particularly supporting San Lorenzo, a club founded by Priest Lorenzo Massa in 1908. The club's fans are known colloquially as "the crows," a reference to the black cassock of its founder. Francis was captivated by the team’s colorful gameplay, and he fondly remembered the roster from their local title win in 1946. Notably, San Lorenzo claimed its first Copa Libertadores title in 2014, just a year after Francis became pope, and the club later honored him by naming its planned future stadium after him.

In an interview with Italy’s RAI television in 2023, Pope Francis commented on the enduring debate regarding the greatest soccer player of all time. When asked to choose between the legendary Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, both World Cup winners from different generations, he unexpectedly included a third contender, Pelé. Francis had previously met the Brazilian icon before becoming pope and later met both Messi and Maradona during his pontificate. Speaking candidly, he noted, “Maradona, as a player, was great. But as a man, he failed,” reflecting on Maradona's personal struggles with addiction and health issues. Conversely, he described Messi as “very correct” and a gentleman, while naming Pelé the “great gentleman” among the three.

Despite being an ardent soccer fan, Pope Francis abstained from watching games on television, adhering to a promise made to the Virgin of Carmen in 1990. Instead, he relied on the radio to stay informed about matches. After relocating to the Vatican, members of the Swiss Guard kept him updated on the results of San Lorenzo and Argentina's matches, informing him about Argentina’s victory in the 2022 World Cup against France.

Francis was enthusiastic about soccer but also cautioned against the fanaticism and violence that can sometimes accompany the sport. He emphasized the importance of humility among top-level players and reminded them of their roots. “Don’t forget where you came from. Those pitches in the outskirts, that place for prayer, that small club,” he urged in his 2019 speech. He expressed a hope that players would always feel gratitude for their journeys, which include sacrifices, victories, and challenges. According to Francis, “Being great in life. That is the victory for all of us.”