Pope meets members of 'Scholas Occurrentes' educational network

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday met with members of the Pontifical Foundation ‘Scholas Occurrentes’ – an international project based in Argentina that brings together schools and educational networks from different cultures and religious backgrounds.

Following an opening greeting from the Pope, participants presented the work of three projects, linking young people around the world through art, through sports and through a citizenship initiative. Among those taking part in the meeting were a number of well-known sports personalities, including the top Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho.

While he was still Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio himself played a key role in the founding of the Scholas Occurentes’, with the goal of improving education, while empowering and integrating different communities, especially those on the margins of society. The organisation today counts over 400.000 members spread across five continents, yet linked though a shared passion for sports, science, technology and art.

During the encounter, at the Casina Pio IV in the Vatican gardens, the organisers announced they would be sponsoring another edition of the “Match for Peace” a celebrity football match to be played at Rome’s Olympic Stadium