Pope Francis remembered Pelé one year after his death: there were tributes throughout Brazil

He Pope francesco He joined the memory of the Brazilian star Pele on the first anniversary of his death, with a written message that was read by the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Orani Tempesta, during a ceremony held last night at the foot of Christ the Redeemer, illuminated with the “Verdeamarela”-shirt and the emblematic number 10. “Pelé, as Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento was known throughout the world, was undoubtedly an athlete who demonstrated in his life the positive characteristics of sports practice”the Pope transmitted through the religious authority of the city.

The Supreme Pontiff thought so, a football fan who has embraced the passion for San Lorenzo since he was a child “the memory of the ‘King of Football’ remains indelible in the minds of many and pushes the new generations to seek in sport this means of promoting bonds of unity between all”.

Pelé, considered by some of the world football community to be the greatest footballer of all time, died on December 28, 2022 at the age of 82after battling colon cancer.

On the first anniversary of his death, the three-time world champion with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970) was commemorated with a tribute at the traditional monument on the Corcovado hill, where an entertainment was held with the presence of the Youth Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra.

“I want to join spiritually in this gesture of homage by sending the participants my blessing and my request to everyone not to stop praying for me”the head of the Catholic Church concludes in his letter.

On the same day on Friday, the Brazilian champion was also remembered with a mass in the city of Santos, where he shone with the shirt of the club of the same name, and with another religious ceremony in his hometown: Tres Coracoes, state of Mina Gerais.