PopeWatch: Soccer Holy War

11 July AD 2014
Donald R. McClarey

PopeWatch pays zero attention to American sports, let alone soccer, but he finds this amusing:

It’s being called a “holy war” with both World Cup finalists hoping for a divine intervention from Rome. But when Argentina and Germany face each other for the World Cup final, only one team will be blessed. Still, that hasn’t stopped World Cup enthusiasts from speculating about how Argentinian Pope Francis and retired German Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be rooting on their home teams. One might envision the retired pope inviting the current pope around to his monastery inside Vatican City to watch the game over a stein of beer. But the Vatican says that is highly unlikely. On Thursday, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told The Daily Beast that he didn’t envision the two popes would be settling down to watch the final game together. “The game is late for Pope Francis,” he said, noting the 9pm Rome start time was edging up to the Holy Father’s bedtime. He also noted that “Pope Emeritus is notably not a big sports fan.”

Go here to read the rest. No hope PopeWatch assumes for an outbreak of papal soccer hooliganism. (More’s the pity!)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqBC3l7i7dk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfYWfU_AKQk[/youtube]

Donald R. McClarey

Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.

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T. Shaw

Friday, July 11, AD 2014 7:18am

I can root for both.

I misspent some time with NATO in West Germany in the early 1970’s. And, the warden and I hosted in our home several of my son’s Argentine fellow graduate (engineering) students: outstanding, young gentlemen. They made us a beef barbecue feast Argentine-style.

I wasn’t expecting a German rout, but I knew they would be organized, disciplined and aggressive. Brazil sans Neymar went into it (I think) without “heart.”

Pinky

Friday, July 11, AD 2014 2:15pm

Two decent and holy people resolving to not care about soccer. Truly, they are examples for the world.

Foxfier

Admin

Friday, July 11, AD 2014 2:28pm

I’ve got to point out: Jason Bach’s Catholic Comic called this last month!
(Why hasn’t Pope Watch linked him before? *grin* Yes, that’s a gratuitous plug. I’m still campaigning to have a son named Valentine, and his comic is my main ammunition in the face of “seriously? Too girly.”)

Donald R. McClarey

Author

Reply to Foxfier

Friday, July 11, AD 2014 2:44pm

Fantastic Foxfier!

Kyle Miller

Friday, July 11, AD 2014 6:18pm

Funny Foxifier. I was going to post a comment saying Germany wins because they appreciate the fundamentals of the game while Argentina’s play is imprecise, but that comic tops it.

PopeWatch: Soccer Holy War

Donald R. McClarey

The American Catholic is a Little Vatican Apostolate