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Bayern meet Pope

October 22, 2014

A delegation from Bayern Munich has enjoyed an audience with Pope Francis at the home of the Catholic Church. The pontiff praised the team for a "wonderful game" on Tuesday against AS Roma.

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Vatikan Deutschland Fußball Bayern München beim Papst Franziskus in Rom
Image: Reuters/Osservatore Romano

Bayern Munich's players and coaching staff paid a visit to Pope Francis in Vatican City on Wednesday, shortly after the team thumped Italian Serie A team AS Roma in the Champions League, 7-1.

"You played a wonderful game yesterday," Pope Francis, a passionate football fan, said in Italian to the team, before he added that he was "surprised" at the result in Bayern's game against Roma.

Bayern team captain Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer presented the pontiff with a Bayern jersey carrying the number 1 and the name Franziskus (the German spelling for Francis) on the back. The shirt had also been signed by the entire team.

Bayern Munich also used the event to pledge a 1-million-euro ($1.27 million) donation to Pope Francis to be used for charitable purposes. The money will be collected at a special gala match planned for next year.

"It was an impressive moment for all of us," said Philipp Lahm, after the visit. "Visiting the Pope is a rare event, and it is something special - that's for sure."

Bayern's team and management will now return to Germany, where the league leaders are set to play against the Bundesliga's second-placed team, Borussia Mönchengladbach, on Sunday.

al/glb (DPA, KNA)