2015-10-30 10:48:00

Pope gets cricket bat after Anglican-Vatican match


Pope Francis has received an unusual gift aimed at boosting relations between the Catholic and Anglican Churches - a cricket bat signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and his team following their recent rematch with the Vatican's XI on Rome's Capanelle grounds.

Australian Cardinal George Pell, a former rugby player who nevertheless knows cricket, gave Francis the bat on Thursday after the St. Peter's Cricket Club beat the Church of England's XI by 43 runs in a 20-over match this weekend.  Pope Francis promptly signed it himself.

St Peter's Cricket Club was officially launched on Oct. 22, 2013, and functions under the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture.  The idea was the brainchild of Australia's ambassador ot the Holy See, John McCarthy.  The Vatican team includes seminarians and priests studying at Rome's pontifical universities. They are 4-0 this season ahead of an April rematch with the Royal Household.  McCarthy, said the Anglicans' visit ``strengthened personal and institutional relations'' between the two churches.  (Source: AP)








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.