Vatican
City, 18 December 2013 (VIS) - Among the participants in today's
general audience there was a delegation from the Buenos Aires
football team “San Lorenzo de Almagro”, of whom Archbishop
Bergoglio was an official supporter, the holder of card no. 88235N-0,
and who won this year's league championship in Argentina, a trophy
they have not held since 2007.
The
“crows”, as they are called by the members and fans of San
Lorenzo, brought the Pope a replica of the Inicial Championship Cup
and the vice-president of the club Marcelo Tinelli, brought a team
shirt, as a gift for Francis who celebrated his 77th birthday
yesterday, 17 December.
The
young Jorge Mario Bergoglio attended the San Lorenzo grounds with his
father, and during his period of office as archbishop of Buenos Aires
he continued to be a member and to visit to the club to celebrate
Mass and to confess the players. The team was founded by a Salesian,
Fr. Lorenzo Massa, who following ordination was sent to the troubled
Almagro quarter and, seeing the enthusiasm of many young people for
football, decided to gather them together in a team, saving some of
them from a life of delinquency. The nickname “crows” was given
to them by their neighbours in the quarter, who used to exclaim “Here
come the crows!”, alluding to the cassock worn by Fr. Massa when he
accompanied them in training.
Today,
in the general audience, Pope Francis said, “I especially greet the
San Lorenzo football team, who won the Championship last Sunday and
have brought the Cup here. Thank you very much”.
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