VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 145   
   DATE 02-09-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - THE POPE TO FOOTBALL STARS: RELIGION AND SPORT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION   
      
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    THE POPE TO FOOTBALL STARS: RELIGION AND SPORT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION   
    Vatican City, 2 September 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon in the Vatican's   
   Paul VI Hall the Holy Father received in audience the members of the so-called   
   "Pope's Football Team for Peace" - fifty players who form part of the history   
   of the sport, including Diego Armando Maradona, Radja Nainggolan, Javier   
   Zanetti, Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea Pirlo, to name just a few.   
    The match, which took place at 8.45 p.m. in Rome's Olympic Stadium, was   
   organised by the Argentine P.U.P.I. Foundation, a charitable organisation, and   
   the proceeds will be devolved to the "Scholas occurentes" initiative which,   
   through technology, art and sport, promotes the social integration of   
   marginalised children and young people. The name of the foundation derives   
   from the footballer Zanetti's nickname, "Pupi", and is also an acronym for the   
   phrase "Por un piberio integrado", "For an integrated childhood".   
    In his address to the organisers and participants in the "interreligious   
   football match for peace", the Pope emphasised that the encounter, aside from   
   providing assistance to these projects of solidarity, also offered an   
   opportunity to reflect on the universal values promoted by football and sport   
   in general, such as loyalty, sharing, acceptance, dialogue and trust in   
   others. He added, "These are values that we all have in common, regardless of   
   race, culture and religious belief. Indeed, this evening's sporting event is a   
   highly symbolic gesture to show that it is possible to construct a culture of   
   encounter and a world of peace, where believers of different religions,   
   preserving their identity - because when I said 'regardless of', this did not   
   mean 'setting aside', no - believers of different faiths, preserving their own   
   identity, may co-exist in harmony and with mutual respect".   
    Francis also expressed his hope that sport might contribute to "the peaceful   
   co-existence of all peoples, banishing any form of discrimination on the   
   grounds of ethnic origin, language or religion". Addressing the players, he   
   remarked, "You know that to discriminate may be synonymous with contempt.   
   Discrimination is contempt, and you, in today's match, are saying 'No' to any   
   form of discrimination. Religions, in particular, must be a vehicle for peace   
   and never for hatred, because God's name must be associated only, and always,   
   with love. Religion and sport, in their true sense, are able to collaborate   
   and offer eloquent signs to all of society of this new era in which peoples   
   "never raise their swords against each other".   
    Before the beginning of the match, a video message from the Pontiff to the   
   players and the public, in Spanish, was screened in the Olympic Stadium. The   
   full text of the message is reproduced below:   
    "Good evening. I am glad you are gathered here for this symbolic match. It is   
   a match that highlights the union between the teams, the union between those   
   who participate as spectators, and the desire of all for peace. A match in   
   which no-one plays just for himself, but for others. Or rather, for all. And   
   in this way each person multiplies, and by playing as part of a team, each one   
   is magnified and becomes a greater person. When playing in a team, competition   
   is not war, but is instead the seed of peace. This is why the symbol of this   
   match is the olive tree. I especially wish to greet the members of Scholas,   
   who have organised this match and who will plant the olive tree of peace. I   
   invite all of us to plant this tree of peace along with Scholas. I apologise   
   for speaking in Spanish, but it is the language of my heart, and today I   
   wanted to speak from the heart. Thank you".   
      
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