International football
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi expressed on social networks his regret for the death of Pope Francis at 88 years after suffering for two months of health problems.
Lionel Messi and Pope Francis shared in 2013. (Photo Free Press: AFP and EFE)
“A different, close, Argentine Pope … QEPD PAPA FRANCISCO,” was the message that Argentine striker Lionel Messi shared on his Instagram account after knowing the news of the Death of Pope Francis This April 21.
“Thank you for making the world a better place. We are going to miss you,” he added.
The words of the footballer are accompanied by a photograph in which he appears with Pope Francis in 2013 when the Argentine team met with the Pontiff shortly after his choice at the head of the Catholic Church.
During the reception, which was held before the albiceleste faced in a friendly with Italy in honor of the new pontiff, Messi received a small olive tree from Francisco, a gift for the Argentine National Team.
The day Messi met Pope Francis
The encounter excited the Argentine striker, who Eight years later he gave the Pope an autograph shirt of Paris Saint German (PSG), the team in which I played.
After receiving the shirt, Pope Francis honored the Argentine star.
“Thanks for the proximity, thanks for the testimony and that the fumes were not uploaded to your head“Francisco said in an interview with the Argentine news agency Télam in 2021.
Pope Francis died on Monday at 07.35 hours (05.35 GMT) in his residence in the Santa Marta house, after more than two months of respiratory problems that kept him hospitalized for 38 days in the Italian capital.