Brendan Rodgers once lightheartedly remarked that Pope Francis’ words to his Celtic squad – that the outcome of a game isn’t everything – might not be warmly received in Glasgow. The 88-year-old – who passed away on Monday – led the Catholic Church and its city-state for more than a dozen years until his passing.
During his leadership, he organised a special encounter with the Scottish team at the Vatican following their 2-0 Champions League defeat by Lazio in December 2023. Recalling it as a dream come true, Rodgers gifted the Pope with a Celtic strip signed by the players.
Reflecting on the event, the former Liverpool manager shared: “When Michael Nicholson mentioned it a few weeks prior to going, it was something that we were all looking forward to.
“It’s an achievement in life, it was incredible to be there – really humbling.. I was very honoured and it was a privilege.”
It was during this audience that the Pontiff advised his visitors that triumph or failure “doesn’t matter,” prompting Rodgers to quip that the notion may not go over too well in Scotland’s largest city, reports the Daily Record.
“I’m not sure that transcends to Glasgow,” Rodgers wittily remarked, adding: “But no, the spirit of what he was saying was very true. It’s what you say to players, have that spirit.
“To be No. 1, think that you are No. 2 so that you are always pushing. The message, in terms of playing as an amateur, is to play with spirit and joy of the game.
“His words were very good. The words ring true for life, not just football. All of us who were there and got to understand the meaning of what he was saying, you can only learn from it.”
Before his passing, Francis had been battling a severe lung infection in hospital for several weeks, which escalated into double pneumonia.
After being discharged, he made two final public appearances, with his last on Easter Sunday, where he delivered blessings to the masses gathered in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, just one day before he died.
When Francis took over from Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, he broke new ground as the first Jesuit pope, the first from South America, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.
Moreover, Francis – who hailed from Argentina – was the first pope to be born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope, Gregory III.
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