Soccer-loving pope meets world-class stars

In this March 31, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis holds a San Lorenzo’s jersey, the Buenos Aires soccer team, handed to him by a faithful at the end of the Easter mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Twelve years after Italy and Argentina last played, the two predominantly Roman Catholic and soccer-mad nations are renewing their storied rivalry in a game dedicated to Pope Francis, an Argentine and a big soccer fan. AP

VATICAN CITY  — Two big-name Argentines have had a VIP meeting at the Vatican — Pope Francis and Barcelona football star Lionel Messi.

The player, his fellow teammates on the Argentine national squad as well as Italy’s national team players were enjoying a private audience Tuesday with the first Latin American-born pontiff in the Apostolic Palace. The teams meet Wednesday in Rome in a friendly match.

Francis told the players to remember they are role models on and off the field “for better or worse.” He asked for their prayers for himself “on the playing field God put me on.”

Francis lamented that sport has become big business.