Vatican Announces “Ninety Minutes for Peace” Charity Soccer Match – UPDATED

UPDATE:  It’s over!  Victors in the “Ninety Minutes for Peace” charity soccer match September 1 in Rome were Javier Zanetti’s Pupi Foundation.  The foundation–as well as the opposing team Scholas Occurrentes, which was organized by the Vatican–raised funds to support educational programs for at-risk kids. The highlight of the game, according to the Associated Press, was Maradona’s lobbed pass which set up the winning goal by Roberto Baggio. The Pupi Foundation players had been down by two goals at halftime, but struggled to regain the lead–winning 6-3.

*     *     *     *     *

In August 2013, Pope Francis met with soccer teams from Argentina and Italy who were together in Rome for a friendly match.  At that meeting, Francis told the players from both teams to remember they are role models on and off the field “for better or worse.” He asked for their prayers for himself “on the playing field God put me on.” Argentine soccer star Javier Zanetti mentioned that he’d like to see a sporting event which draws together people of different religions. That idea took shape; and this morning, the Vatican announced an “Interreligious Match for Peace” which will be held on September 1 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

World level soccer players and coaches will participate, including Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Buffon, Zinedine Zidane, Javier Zanetti, Roberto Baggio, Andrea Pirlo, Yuto Nagatomo and Samuel Eto’o.  Proceeds from the event will be donated to charity. Tickets will go on sale Friday, July 25.  All proceeds will benefit “Scholas Occurrentes” and the P.U.P.I. Foundation. Scholas Occurrentes is an educational organization, supported by Pope Francis through the Pontifical Council for Sciences, that uses technology, art and sport to promote social integration and the culture of encounter. The P.U.P.I. Foundation is a non-profit organisation created by Paula and Javier Zanetti over ten years ago.  The Foundation promotes and supports distance adoption programs and assistance for children in difficult social conditions.