Catholic Pontiff and the Vicar of Rome, Pope Francis, has given fellow Argentine and Paris Saint-Germain talisman Lionel Messi a signed football jersey.
This is according to the Vatican’s sports association, which broke the news on Monday.
The jersey, the yellow kit of the Vatican City’s sports team — so-called Athletica Vaticana — was handed to Messi by French bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard.
The signed jersey, according to the Vatican on Facebook, was a “blessing” for the La Albiceleste captain, whom Gobilliard described as “a man of faith.”
“Messi told me how important this step was for him. We prayed together,” Gobilliard wrote on Twitter.
Last October, Messi gave Pope Francis a signed jersey through French Prime Minister Jean Castex.
Messi returned to action on Sunday in PSG’s 4-0 Ligue 1 win over Stade de Reims, after weeks of absence due to contracting Covid-19.
