Off the Altar, Onto the Field: Pope Francis’ Love for Football

POPE FRANCIS, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is internationally renowned for his humility, progressive attitudes, and dedication to social justice throughout his papacy. 

Under his papal robes lurks a strong passion rooted in his childhood and homeland: a lifelong love of football, or soccer, as it is known in some parts of the world. He considers it “the most beautiful game.”

More than that, his passion for the game has influenced his worldview, inspired his ministry, and served as a foundation for many of his teachings on community, teamwork, and the human spirit.

Long History

From Argentine countrymen Lionel Messi and the late Diego Maradona to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Buffon, Francis welcomed football stars to the Vatican, signing dozens of shirts and balls from all over the world. 

In addition, he described playing as a little boy on the streets of Buenos Aires with a rag ball. While acknowledging that he was “not among the best” and that “he had two left feet,” he frequently played goalkeeper. 

His attachment to the San Lorenzo club in Buenos Aires, where he went to attend matches with his father and brothers, is as strong as his passion for football. “It was romantic football,” he told AFP.

Furthermore, Pope Francis maintained his membership even after becoming Pope, causing a slight scandal when he received a membership card from rivals Boca Juniors as part of a Vatican educational collaboration. 

Francis was kept up to date on the club’s development by one of the Vatican’s Swiss Guards, who would put results and league tables on his desk, demonstrating his enthusiasm for the sport and team.

“Whether you are an amateur or professional footballer, whether you like to watch it on television, it makes no difference: this sport is part of people’s lives,” Francis said, explaining how the sport has been a religion to its fans.

“Many say that football is the most beautiful game in the world. I think so too. We are at the service of something greater than ourselves, which transcends us collectively and personally,” he added.

A Friend’s Message

With the pope’s passing, Messi and his favorite club San Lorenzo thanked him for “making the world a better place,” and for his decade-long “passion” for the sport.

“RIP Pope Francis. Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you,” Messi wrote on an Instagram story after the death of his fellow countryman, the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere.

Screenshot from: Lionel Messi | Instagram

Meanwhile, for San Lorenzo, “Goodbye forever, Holy Father! An honorary member of our club, his passion for San Lorenzo always moved us especially, and it unites us in constant prayer for his soul.”

Pope Francis’s enthusiasm for football is a proof of his larger approach to life and leadership—rooted in the everyday, sympathetic to the passions of ordinary people, and always aiming to uplift and unite. 

Whether rooting for San Lorenzo, blessing a national team, or evoking the sport’s principles in his teachings, he reminds the world that even the most basic delights, such as the excitement of a goal, can have profound spiritual significance.

Pope Francis sees football as more than just a game; it is a reflection of our ability to cooperate, rejoice, and create something beautiful together. 

By publicly sharing this, he adds warmth, relatability, and joy to the papacy, reminding us all that faith and fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive.