(ANS – Buenos Aires) – While the entire world is looking for more information on the newly elected Pope, we offer one episode which shows his love for sport and, especially, his devotion to Mary Help of Christians.

In 2008, during a meeting, managers of San Lorenzo de Almagro football team gave the then Cardinal Bergoglio a San Lorenzo guernsey and a Season ticket to the club as a “Centenary member”. For the occasion he also received a letter from the team's leadership inviting him to celebrate Mass for the 100 years of San Lorenzo Team.

Cardinal Bergoglio recalled the extraordinary San Lorenzo team which won the Championship in 1946, with players like Farro, Pontoni and Martino. At the centenary celebration he said that at San Lorenzo “we don't take our colours from just anywhere, but we ask the Virgin” and he also asked that “Mary Help of Christians never be separated from the Club because She is its mother, given that San Lorenzo began at the St Anthony's Oratory, under the Virgin Mary's protection”.

Published 14/03/2013