“It’s More Than a Game”
When Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, he became the first Pope from the Americas – and the first from the football-loving Southern Hemisphere. A son of Argentina, where football is woven into the fabric of daily life, the young Jorge Mario Bergoglio grew up cheering for his beloved San Lorenzo. Through football, he learned about teamwork, heartbreak, and hope – lessons that would later echo in his global mission for dignity and justice.
His first overseas trip as Pope took him to Brazil in July 2013. There, on Copacabana Beach, over 3 million people gathered for an open-air Mass with the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires. But just months later, it wasn’t a mega-event or global headline that would best reflect his values—it was something quieter, but deeply powerful…
In March 2014, the second Street Child World Cup was held in Rio. Children who had lived through homelessness, poverty, and violence came together not just to play, but to be heard. Pope Francis, always a champion of the marginalised, sent a heartfelt message of support. With a twinkle in his eye, he added that he hoped Team Argentina would shine on the pitch – and off it.
Then tragedy struck. Just two weeks before kick-off, Rodrigo Kelton, the captain of Team Brazil, was murdered on his way home from school. The grief rippled through the tournament. A mural of Rodrigo—shown proudly holding a gold medal—was painted above one of the main pitches. That same pitch would later host the emotionally charged match between Argentina and Brazil.
Argentina took a one-nil lead. But instead of celebrating, the entire team paused. They walked quietly over to Rodrigo’s mural, bowed their heads, and paid tribute. No words. Just respect, solidarity, and shared sorrow.
In that moment, football became something far greater than sport. It became a language of empathy, a bridge between nations, a platform for healing. That was the spirit Pope Francis had hoped for. And that’s when we knew – Team Argentina were doing their country, and their Pope, truly proud.
Because in Rio, on that field, in that moment, football was more than a game.
