Pope Francis has told both the Italian and Argentinian national sides of his love of rugby ahead of their clash in Rome this weekend.
The rugby players were received in audience by the Pope on the eve of their match against each other in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
It will be Italy’s last match before next year’s RBS 6 Nations while Argentina are looking for a first win of the autumn.
“There are the famous scrums, which are sometimes hard to watch,” the Pope said. “And then there are the individual manoeuvres, races towards the goal.
“It makes us think of life, because our whole life we are heading for a goal. We need to run together, pass the ball from hand to hand, until we get to it.
“Playing rugby is hard; it’s no walk in the park. And I think that makes it useful to toughen the spirit, the will.”
