Cafu delivers national team shirt to Pope Leo 14 in a Vatican meeting

Pope Leão 14 received on Wednesday (11) a special gift from Brazil: a shirt of the Brazilian national team autographed by Cafu, former defender and captain of the team that won the five-time world championship in 2002. The meeting took place during a general hearing in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, as part of the celebrations of the Holy Year of the Catholic Church.

“With respect and affection, by Captain Cafu,” said the dedication written in the uniform delivered to the Pontiff, who was smiling next to the former player. The video of the moment was published by Vatican News, the official communication body of the Holy See.

Cafu is in Rome participating in the Jubilee of the sportsmen, an event aimed at athletes and sports professionals within the program of the Santo Year. In his Instagram profile, he celebrated the meeting with the Pope: “A special moment on a special day for our Brazilian team. We are the only nation present in all the World Cups and now with the blessing to go to Hexa.”

In addition to the shirt, another Brazilian gift also arrived in the hands of Leo 14. Mariah Morais, bride of Cafu, handed the pontiff a copy of the book “After the after”, of his own. The work deals with the welcome of people divorced by the Catholic Church, a theme often debated within the institution.

“Not even in my dreams … The Pope took my book and I was able to talk about the importance of welcoming the churches to divorced people,” Mariah wrote on social networks. “A special day.”

The Pope’s connection with the sport is old. Leão 14, who practiced tennis in his youth, is often close to athletes and has manifested himself several times about the social role of sports in the formation of values ​​such as respect, discipline and solidarity.