Pope urges responsibility in football to preserve values
May 02, 2014 - Pope Francis on Friday urged that football be able to regain and
maintain its sporting values, warning that overriding economic factors could end
up polluting every level of the game. The Pope made the observation on Friday when
he met Italy’s Fiorentina and Napoli soccer teams along with a delegation from the
Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Seria A league. The meeting came two day
before Fiorentina and Napoli meet in Italy's Cup final at the Olimpico Stadium in
Rome. Pope francis noted that football in Italy, as in Argentina and in other
countries, is a social event, and calls for social responsibility both on the part
of the players on and off the field, as well as on the part of national and local
football officials. He said he still recalls wonderful memories as a youngster when
he went to watch matches on Sundays with his family. “I would like to wish that
football and every popular sport regain the festive dimension,” he said. Noting
that football today is involved in big business, with advertisements, television,
etc., Pope Francis urged that the economic factor should not override the sporting
spirit, or else there is the risk of polluting everything, whether at the international,
national or local level. Hence there is need to act positively from the top, restoring
sporting dignity to events. And in this, the Pope said, footballers have a great
responsibility. He reminded them that they are the focus of attention especially
young fans, and wished they be truly sporting, as their behavior has an echo, whether
good or bad. The Holy Father explained that sports has a strong educative value
for the growth of a person – personal growth in spiritual and physical harmony, and
social growth in solidarity, loyalty and respect. “May football always be able to
develop this potentiality,” the Pope wished.