Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Pope meets German football team

At 9:00am this morning, in the Atrium of the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the managers and the players who are part of the Borussia Mönchengladbach soccer team.


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to managers and players

Dear players from the Borussia Mönchengladbach team,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very happy to welcome you to the Vatican.  Cordial greetings to all of you.  Your visit also offers me an occasion to express my gratitude for the friendly relationship that has been created between your football players, especially your venerated team and the sporting association of Vatican employees with its various meetings which have taken place both in Mönchengladbach and in Rome over the past years.

The fohlen-Elf, so distinguished because of the fact that it is always a taylor-made team as it were, is a team which includes families.  It is wonderful to see how families are part of your Borussia Park and how various educational programmes and sporting initiatives are run in order to help young people, especially those who are disadvantaged.  I invite you to continue committing yourselves to being athletes for good and for peace, things which this world of ours needs so much.

I entrust you, your families and all those who are dear to you to the Lord.  May He always accompany you with his blessing.

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