Pope Leo meets with Napoli football club following title victory

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Leo XIV met on Tuesday morning with members of SSC Napoli, the soccer membership which on Friday received the Italian league title.

In a quick speech delivered earlier than greeting the gamers, the Pope mirrored on the significance of teamwork and the “moral quality” of sport.

Earlier than studying his tackle, nevertheless, the Pope joked with the gamers, suggesting that they hadn’t wished to applaud for him as a result of the press had reported that he was a Roma fan.

A group victory

Pope Leo then learn his speech, starting by congratulating the group for his or her victory, which he known as “a great celebration for all of Naples.”

Some 200,000 followers thronged town’s streets on Monday, Might 26, for Napoli’s victory parade.

Followers cheer on Napoli’s victory parade   (ANSA)

The Pope informed the membership that, up to now, when a group received a trophy, consideration was paid to the performances and abilities of particular person gamers.

Immediately, nevertheless, we recognise that “it’s the team who wins the championship … the players, the manager and his staff, and the sports club” as an entire, the Pope famous.

This, Pope Leo stated, was the facet of Napoli’s victory that he wished to stress probably the most: “the instance of a group—within the broad sense—that works collectively, with particular person abilities put on the service of the entire.”

Sport’s ethical dimension

The Pope then added that he wished to briefly talk about the “educational” function of sport.

“Unfortunately,” he stated, “when sport becomes a business, it risks losing the values that make it educational, and it can even become harmful from that point of view.”

That is significantly vital relating to youngsters, the Pope famous, and he appealed to oldsters and coaches to “pay close attention to the moral quality of the sporting experience.”

“What’s at stake,” he warned, “is the human development of young people.”

Pope Leo with Napoli supervisor Antonio Conte   (@Vatican Media)

Greatest needs from Rosa

Pope Leo then introduced his tackle to an finish by thanking the squad for his or her go to, congratulating them once more on their victory, and providing his blessing to the group members and their households.

He additionally handed on finest needs from Rosa, one in all his cooks: “Congratulations also from a lady who’s been cooking for me recently, and who is from Naples. She says: ‘Congratulations!’ … that’s from Rosa, a big fan.”