A touching, intense and humanly constructive experience.
This is how President Mauro Balata defined the meeting in the Vatican between the Serie B family and Pope Francis, received by the Supreme Pontiff in audience in the Paul VI hall.
An encounter with the one who represents a spiritual guide and is characterized by profound social values, who has always seen sport and in particular football as a vehicle for community sharing as well as identifying a tool for promoting social responsibility actions.
All principles that Lega Serie B has always shared and promoted through the implementation of structural projects, direct interventions in the territories and with support for campaigns against social unease.
Amatrice and Lampedusa, up to the numerous contributions in times of pandemic and, moreover, to support the campaigns, among many others, against bullying, violence against women and for the defense of the environment.
"It was a great emotion - the words of Balata - The whole Serie B wanted to share with the Holy Father the need for a profound spiritual renewal at a time when the world is experiencing an extremely difficult period due to a pandemic that has severely undermined the health, relationships and prospects of many people.
This appointment also means this, the meeting of those who want and wish to leave again as soon as possible, leaving behind difficult years also through football, a sport that unites many people in the courtyards, on the pitches up to the stadiums, as repeatedly represented by Pope Francis whom I thank for the testimony, the availability and the affection shown during the visit.
"" Don't you know that in the races at the stadium everyone runs, but only one wins the prize?
You too run in order to conquer him! ... I run, but not as someone who has no goal "(St. Paul, First letter to the Corinthians 9,24).