Soccer players, big and small, get top billing at papal audience

Published: 2005-09-21

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The leaders of Europe's professional soccer association and 500 pint-sized soccer players from Italy and 16 East European countries got top billing at Pope Benedict XVI's Sept. 21 general audience. The executive committee of the Union of European Football Associations was giving its support to a project of the Italian soccer federation and the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," the Vatican's charity coordinator, to provide balls, shirts, shoes and other soccer equipment to schools and orphanages in Eastern Europe. Pope Benedict told them, "Your presence gives me an opportunity to underline the importance of sport, a discipline that when practiced with respect for the rules becomes an educational tool and a vehicle of important human and spiritual values." The pope said he hoped the initiative for Eastern Europe would help people see that sports could contribute to building solidarity and respect among peoples. At the end of the audience, three of the under-12 soccer players gave gifts to the pope: a bouquet of yellow and white flowers, an equipment bag and a soccer ball.

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