Pope Leo sparks heated debate with World Cup 2026 message

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePope Leo has shared an inspirational message about World Cup 2026 on the eve of the opener and it has reignited an old debate.“The World Cup begins tomorrow, and many will watch the matches. Soccer reminds us of something we must not forget: life is not a race to show off on our own, but a path we learn to walk together,” the pope wrote. “Anyone who does not know how to pass the ball, even if they have talent, has not yet understood the game. Anyone who does not know how to live with and for others has not yet understood life.”The message of working as a team resonated with most of his followers but some zeroed in on the word “soccer” - which led to heated debate in the replies on X.“Dear Pope, it’s called FOOTBALL, not soccer,” one person wrote, while a second snapped, “The pope called it soccer, so it’s soccer.”World Cup 2026 will kick off on Thursday with Mexico playing South Africa in Mexico City and South Korea playing the Czech Republic in Guadalajara.In fullWorld Cup 2026 live: Gianni Infantino to give major press conference on eve of tournamentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Raccontata daindependent.co.uk