Qatar 2022 World Final: “I invite you to live it with humility”, the message of Pope Francis to the world champion

The Pope francesco He invited the winner of the World Cup final to Qatar this Sunday to humbly celebrate.

“Our best wishes to the champions, but I invite you to live it with humility. And to those who don’t win, to live it with joy“, declared the Pope in an interview with Canale 5 which will be broadcast this Sunday evening, after the final, although some excerpts have been made public.

“The greatest value is not winning or not winning, but correctness“Said this San Lorenzo fan, AFP news agency reported.

Francisco said he didn’t know if he could watch the game and didn’t dare to make a prediction, but asked the players to “shake hands” at the end of the game no matter what.

the letter of resignation

At the end of a year full of speculation about his health, Pope Francis confirmed that he had signed a waiver “in case of medical impediment”, written by him in 2013 and delivered to a trusted collaborator.

“I have already signed my resignation,” said Jorge Bergoglio, who turned 86 yesterday, in an interview published this Sunday by the Spanish newspaper ABC. It was when they asked him about a possible force majeure reason for leaving the office to which he was elected on March 13, 2013.

“It was Tarcisio Bertone, the secretary of state. I signed it and told him: ‘In case of impediment for health reasons or whatever, here is my resignation. They already have it'”, added the Pope , referring to the Italian cardinal who held the position of Vatican “number two” until October 2013.

Francis then added that he did not know “who Cardinal Bertone gave it to, but I gave it to him when I was secretary of state” and explained that his wish is that “it be known” that he has already signed his resignation. “That’s why I say it,” he said.

Francis’ revelation is not, in any case, an unprecedented practice in the Church. At least two other popes, the Italians Paul VI and Pius XII, also left their written resignations in advance in case they could not continue due to health problems.

This year various media will speculate on his resignation after a series of ailments. Francisco has difficulty walking due to an inoperable knee problem that has forced him to use a wheelchair in recent months. He has also had to cancel or cut back on activities multiple times in the last year due to pain.