Bidding farewell to Pope Francis, the devout football fan who led the Church

From Buenos Aires to the Vatican—football was always part of his journey

Pope Francis has died at 88, bringing an end to a papacy that stirred strong opinions across the globe. Known not only for his efforts to modernise aspects of the Catholic Church but also for his unwavering love of football, the former Jorge Mario Bergoglio remained a fan at heart. Even as he took on the solemn duties of the papacy, his connection to the sport remained a vibrant thread throughout his life.

A devoted San Lorenzo de Almagro fan

Bergoglio’s love of football was widely known. Like many Argentinians, he had the game in his blood and often made public remarks showing his support, openly stating that he was a fan of San Lorenzo de Almagro.

Congratulations on winning the Libertadores

The following year, in 2014, San Lorenzo were crowned champions of the Copa Libertadores after defeating Paraguay’s Club Nacional of Asunción. Pope Francis proudly celebrated the victory during an official visit to South Korea, showing his allegiance to the club.

‘"Part of my cultural identity"

"I want to send a special greeting to the champions of the Americas, the San Lorenzo team, who are part of my cultural identity," said the Pope during the visit, speaking to the press as member number 88235N of the Argentinian club.

Family memories

"For me, San Lorenzo was the family team. My dad played for the basketball team. When we were kids, mum used to come with us to the Gasómetro (Estadio del Ciclón) too. I remember the team from ’46 – San Lorenzo were brilliant," Bergoglio added.

He welcomed the champions to the Vatican

However, it wasn’t just simple congratulations – after the Libertadores win, he received the team in Rome during a public audience. From his place as Supreme Pontiff, he took the opportunity to celebrate that great victory with them, trophy and all.

Someone who always loved playing football

"I always loved playing football, even if I wasn’t very good at it. In Buenos Aires, people like me were called 'pata dura' – kind of like having two left feet. But I played. I was often the goalkeeper," he wrote in his 2025 autobiography Hope, based on conversations with Italian journalist Carlo Musso.

The Argentinian club, proud of their member

San Lorenzo proudly claimed Bergoglio as a fan and member. Five years earlier, he had celebrated mass for the club’s centenary as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. When he was named Pope, the club tweeted: "It’s a source of pride for the Institution to know that the first South American Pope is a member of San Lorenzo."

Football as a social tool

Bergoglio has always defended football as an important social tool, as he made clear during the reception of the sports association Athletica Vaticana in 2024, when he said that "sport is a way to express one’s talents but also to build society. Sport, in fact, teaches us the value of fraternity."

Equal despite our differences

"On the pitch, a person’s origin, language or culture doesn’t matter. What matters is commitment and a shared goal. This unity in sport is a powerful metaphor for our lives. It reminds us that despite our differences, we are all members of the same human family," he added.

Friendly match for the Amatrice earthquake victims

That same spirit, similar to what connected him with San Lorenzo, was also evident in 2016 when, after the earthquake in Amatrice (Italy) that claimed 292 lives, he helped organise a friendly match between the Argentinian team and AS Roma to raise funds for the victims of the disaster.

Pelé, above Maradona and Messi

Bergoglio followed Argentina through three World Cups – Argentina 1978, Mexico 1986 and Qatar 2022 – and often spoke fondly of two legends: Maradona and Messi. He once told La Gazzetta dello Sport that "on the pitch, Maradona was a poet", and praised Messi in an interview with RAI, saying, "he’s a joy to watch, but he’s not God" – carefully avoiding any hint of blasphemy. Still, he always said Pelé stood above them both.