VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 145
DATE 02-09-2014

Summary:
- THE POPE TO FOOTBALL STARS: RELIGION AND SPORT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

___________________________________________________________

 THE POPE TO FOOTBALL STARS: RELIGION AND SPORT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
 Vatican City, 2 September 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the
Vatican's Paul VI Hall the Holy Father received in audience the members of
the so-called "Pope's Football Team for Peace" - fifty players
who form part of the history of the sport, including Diego Armando
Maradona, Radja Nainggolan, Javier Zanetti, Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea
Pirlo, to name just a few.
 The match, which took place at 8.45 p.m. in Rome's Olympic Stadium, was
organised by the Argentine P.U.P.I. Foundation, a charitable organisation,
and the proceeds will be devolved to the "Scholas occurentes"
initiative which, through technology, art and sport, promotes the social
integration of marginalised children and young people. The name of the
foundation derives from the footballer Zanetti's nickname,
"Pupi", and is also an acronym for the phrase "Por un
piberio integrado", "For an integrated childhood".
 In his address to the organisers and participants in the
"interreligious football match for peace", the Pope emphasised
that the encounter, aside from providing assistance to these projects of
solidarity, also offered an opportunity to reflect on the universal values
promoted by football and sport in general, such as loyalty, sharing,
acceptance, dialogue and trust in others. He added, "These are values
that we all have in common, regardless of race, culture and religious
belief. Indeed, this evening's sporting event is a highly symbolic gesture
to show that it is possible to construct a culture of encounter and a world
of peace, where believers of different religions, preserving their identity
- because when I said 'regardless of', this did not mean 'setting aside',
no - believers of different faiths, preserving their own identity, may
co-exist in harmony and with mutual respect".
 Francis also expressed his hope that sport might contribute to "the
peaceful co-existence of all peoples, banishing any form of discrimination
on the grounds of ethnic origin, language or religion". Addressing the
players, he remarked, "You know that to discriminate may be synonymous
with contempt. Discrimination is contempt, and you, in today's match, are
saying 'No' to any form of discrimination. Religions, in particular, must
be a vehicle for peace and never for hatred, because God's name must be
associated only, and always, with love. Religion and sport, in their true
sense, are able to collaborate and offer eloquent signs to all of society
of this new era in which peoples "never raise their swords against
each other".
 Before the beginning of the match, a video message from the Pontiff to the
players and the public, in Spanish, was screened in the Olympic Stadium.
The full text of the message is reproduced below:
 "Good evening. I am glad you are gathered here for this symbolic
match. It is a match that highlights the union between the teams, the union
between those who participate as spectators, and the desire of all for
peace. A match in which no-one plays just for himself, but for others. Or
rather, for all. And in this way each person multiplies, and by playing as
part of a team, each one is magnified and becomes a greater person. When
playing in a team, competition is not war, but is instead the seed of
peace. This is why the symbol of this match is the olive tree. I especially
wish to greet the members of Scholas, who have organised this match and who
will plant the olive tree of peace. I invite all of us to plant this tree
of peace along with Scholas. I apologise for speaking in Spanish, but it is
the language of my heart, and today I wanted to speak from the heart. Thank
you".

___________________________________________________________

For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

--- MPost/386 v1.21