Pope Francis congratulated Leo Messi on Friday for his "simplicity", the latter having sent him a signed jersey from his new club, Paris Saint-Germain.
"Dear brother, I thank you for the jersey you sent me and your dedication, always with your simplicity," François said in a video released this Friday by the Argentinian news agency Telam.
During an audience Monday at the Vatican, Jean Castex offered Pope Francis a Messi jersey with his new team, and his number 30 on the back and a handwritten dedication: “With all my friendship. The French Prime Minister had recovered the much sought-after tunic from the France Football six-fold Golden Ball on September 19 at the Parc des Princes. The politician attended that day at PSG-Lyon won by the partners of Marquinhos. It was Messi's first game at the Park in his new colors.
"Thank you for your closeness, thank you for your testimony and for not having taken the big head", continues François in the video about his compatriot, world star of football.
"God bless you", concludes the Argentine Pope, a big fan of football.
He has been a supporter since his childhood of the Buenos Aires club of San Lorenzo.
Lionel Messi sent Francois the shirts of the teams he played for, including Spanish club Barcelona, which he left to join PSG this year.
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