Exchange of “tunics” between compatriots: Argentine football star Lionel Messi, who has been playing at Paris Saint-Germain since last summer, received a jersey signed by Pope Francis after having offered him his own.
The Parisian striker received the jersey on Sunday from the hands of Mgr Emmanuel Gobilliard, auxiliary bishop of Lyon and delegate for the Holy See of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“A man of faith, Messi told me how important this step was for him. We prayed together, ”tweeted Bishop Gobilliard with a photo alongside the Argentine star holding the yellow jersey in his hands, and another alongside the Brazilian Neymar, on the sidelines of the match between Paris SG and Reims, Sunday evening at the Parc des Princes (4-0 victory for the Parisians).
“The exchange of jerseys between the pope and the Argentine star is now complete,” said the Vatican’s sports association, Athletica Vaticana.
Indeed, in October, Prime Minister Jean Castex had given François Messi’s autographed jersey, flocked with the number 30, in the colors of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
The Argentine pontiff, a great football fan – he has been a supporter of the Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo since his childhood – thanked him and congratulated him for his “simplicity”.
Messi and Jorge Bergoglio, elected pope in March 2013, met in August of the same year at the Vatican.