Messi proud of new Pope

Pope Francis holding up a jersey

Reigning world footballer of the year Lionel Messi on Thursday admitted his pride at hearing that the new Pope was from his home country Argentina.
“It is a source of pride for all Argentines that the Pope is from here,” said Messi, the captain of the Argentine national team, at a press conference on the eve of his country’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in Buenos Aires.
“Obviously I would like to meet him,” he added.
The new Pope Francis is known to be a football fan and a follower of Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo.