Football fan Pope Francis hails Spezia

By
Tom Kirkwood
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This photo taken on January 17, 2021 and handout on January 18, 2021 by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis gesturing during a weekly live streamed Angelus prayer from the library of the apostolic palace in The Vatican, during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
This photo taken on January 17, 2021 and handout on January 18, 2021 by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis gesturing during a weekly live streamed Angelus prayer from the library of the apostolic palace in The Vatican, during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)

Pope Francis, an avid football fan, congratulated Spezia on their dramatic Italian Cup win against Roma, in an audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.

Spezia will face Napoli in next week’s quarter-finals after shocking the capital city side 4-2 after extra time late on Tuesday.

“Congratulations, because you did well yesterday,” the Argentine pontiff told Vincenzo Italiano’s outfit, who are playing their first ever Serie A season.

“In Argentina, we dance the tango, and the tango is music in two-four (time). Today you are four to two, OK,” the 84-year-old pope told them, according to a Vatican statement.

“Congratulations and keep it up!”

He described sport as a “wonder” that brings out the best in people.

Francis is a keen follower of Buenos Aires team San Lorenzo and has spoken of his joy of playing football on the city’s streets as a child.

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© Agence France-Presse

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