Pope Francis has thanked Argentina football star Lionel Messi for sending him a Paris Saint-Germain club jersey.
“Lionel Messi, dear brother, thank you for the jersey and the dedication,” the pontiff said in a video published on Friday by Argentina’s Telam news agency.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex had given the Pope the jersey during a visit to the Vatican, with the inscription “For Francis, with much love” signed by Messi.
During his time at FC Barcelona, Messi already sent the leader of the Catholic Church, considered a big football fan, several jerseys from the Catalan club.
“Thank you for staying grounded. Stay like this. God bless you, you can always count on me,” Pope Francis added.
(dpa/NAN)
