Paul Gascoigne Recalls Unforgettable Phone Call from Pope John Paul II
The world of football is still reeling from the news of Pope Francis’s passing at the age of 88. However, it is not the current Pope who has made headlines recently, but rather a historic phone call made to football legend Paul Gascoigne by Pope John Paul II back in the day. According to an interview with The Express, Gascoigne recalled the unforgettable opening line he used when answering the Pope’s call.
During his time at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground, Gascoigne received a call from the Pope, which left a lasting impression on him. In an interview on The Rest Is Football podcast, Gascoigne revealed that he was getting calls from A-list celebrities, including George Clooney, Dustin Hoffman, and Oprah Winfrey. However, the call from the Pope was one that stood out. "I was getting calls from everywhere," Gascoigne said. "The best one was I got told there was a phone call and I said ‘tell them to f off, I’m training’. They said ‘you better take the phone call’. I said, ‘no I’m training, tell them I’ll call them after my training’. They said it was important so I said, ‘who the f is it?’ They said it was The Pope, John Paul II."
Gascoigne’s response to the Pope’s call was characteristically humorous, as he recalled: "I picked up the phone and went, ‘hi Pope, you alreet?’ I said, ‘hiya Pope, what do you want?’ He said, ‘come to the Vatican, I want to meet you’." The Express reports that Gascoigne’s father is a Catholic, and the encounter with the Pope was an experience he will never forget. "My Dad’s a Catholic. We went over and saw the Pope, it was unbelievable," Gascoigne said.
The news of Pope Francis’s passing has brought back memories of the historic papacy of Pope John Paul II, who took over from Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005. According to The Express, Pope Francis had been battling health issues for months and was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome for bronchitis treatment in February, which escalated into double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the Pope’s passing, saying: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis."
In a separate interview, Gascoigne also reminisced about his illustrious football career, from playing for Newcastle United to lifting the FA Cup with Spurs. However, it was representing England at Italia ’90 that he holds above all else. As reported by The Express, Gascoigne recalled the heartbreak of receiving a booking in the semi-final against West Germany, which would have ruled him out of the final. "Obviously, I broke down crying. I think most of it wasn’t just because of the yellow card – I swear down I had probably the best time of my life," Gascoigne said.
England’s dreams were dashed in a penalty shootout defeat to West Germany, leading to their exit from the tournament, followed by a loss to Italy in the battle for third place. Despite the highs and lows of his career, Gascoigne’s encounter with Pope John Paul II remains one of the most memorable moments for the football legend. As The Express reports, Gascoigne’s story is a testament to the enduring power of football to bring people together, even with the highest echelons of society.
