Pope Francis receives AS Roma, San Lorenzo clubs before friendly
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the players and staff of the AS Roma soccer club, along with the players and staff of his own favorite Argentine San Lorenzo de Almagro club on Friday.
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AS Roma is to face San Lorenzo in a friendly contest on Saturday afternoon.
All proceeds from the friendly, are to be donated to the ongoing earthquake relief effort in central Italy, which was struck on August 24th by a temblor that killed nearly 300 people and caused massive devastation.
“Thanks for your visit,” Pope Francis told the clubs, “and thanks for your generosity in giving to the earthquake victtims.”
The audience took place a day ahead of the Festival of the Family organized by Roma as part of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
A note in English on the AS Roma website announcing the special audience notes that the Family Festival – which will be held at Rome’s Olympic Stadium – comes at a time in which the victims of the recent earthquake in central Italy are very much on the minds and in the hearts of the club and of all involved.