Antonio Conte and Napoli Squad Meet with Pope Francis
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In a special private audience, Napoli’s head coach, Antonio Conte, and his squad of Serie A title winners met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Tuesday morning. The meeting took place during the midst of their title celebrations, which have been ongoing over the bank holiday weekend.
According to Football Italia, the Napoli squad, along with club President Aurelio De Laurentiis and other officials, were welcomed into the Vatican by the Pope himself. The Pope congratulated the team on their title success and spoke about the socio-economic importance of football. He also addressed recent rumours that he is a Roma supporter, saying, “The press says I am a Roma supporter, but welcome.”
The Pope’s Meeting with Napoli Squad
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During the private audience, the Pope shared his thoughts on the team’s achievement, saying, “Winning the league is a goal that is achieved at the end of a long journey, where the extraordinary performance of champions is what matters most, not the exploits of the past.” He continued, “The league is won by the team, and when I say ‘team’, I mean the players, the coach, the staff and the whole club.”
The Pontiff also highlighted the social value of football, saying, “I am happy to welcome you now, to highlight your success. I say that it is also important from a social point of view. We know how popular football is in Italy and across the world, so it seems to me that the social value of an event like this is the result of a team, in which the talents of individuals are put to the service of the collective.”
Importance of Morals in Football
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The Pope also emphasised the importance of morals within football, particularly when it comes to young people. He said, “There is one last thing that is close to my heart. It is about the educational aspect. Unfortunately, when sport becomes a business, it risks losing the values that make it educational. This requires vigilance, especially when dealing with young people. I appeal to both parents and coaches: We have to be very attentive to the moral aspect of the sporting experience at a competitive level, because it also involves the growth and development of young people.”
Napoli’s Title Win and Celebrations
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Napoli were crowned champions of Italy on Friday night, following their 2-0 win at home against Cagliari. The team held a celebratory parade in Naples on Monday and were invited to meet the Pope on Tuesday. According to Football Italia, Conte was joined by a travelling party of around 50 people, including club officials and players.
The Napoli squad’s meeting with the Pope was a special moment for the team, who have been celebrating their title win over the past few days. As reported by Football Italia, the team’s players and staff were aboard two open-top buses during their trophy parade in Naples, which was attended by thousands of fans.
Conclusion
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The meeting between Napoli’s squad and Pope Francis was a unique and special moment for the team, who have been enjoying their Serie A title celebrations over the past few days. As Football Italia reported, the Pope’s words of encouragement and advice to the team were a welcome boost to the players and staff, who have worked hard to achieve their goal of becoming champions of Italy.
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