Pope's favorite soccer team to give him honorary jersey

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mar 20, 2013 / 15:11 pm

Pope Francis' favorite soccer team in Argentina plans to send him a personalized jersey with his name on it.

The San Lorenzo Soccer Club in Buenos Aires announced on its website on March 18 that it was inspired to make the customized jersey because of "the repercussion that the election of the former Archbishop of the city of Buenos Aires as the supreme leader of the Catholic religion has had around the world."

The jersey will have the Pope's name in Spanish, "Francisco," on the back.

In a recent letter to the Pope, who is an avid San Lorenzo fan, the soccer club expressed its joy over his election "as the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church." 

It also recalled the "special moments" the club has shared over the years with Pope Francis, including a 2008 Mass he said as cardinal to mark the club's 100th anniversary and the time he spent as a young priest encouraging the team.

These memories "underscore his humility, his friendliness and his values," the team said. "Know that to us you are not just another Pope, nor the first 'Argentinean' or 'Latin American' or 'Jesuit' Pope. You are the 'San Lorenzo Pope.'"

The team said Pope Francis would undoubtedly "carry out the same missionary work that inspired the foundation of our club." 

"We salute you and we are with you in your immense present and future task in search of the brotherhood of peoples, equity and social justice."