World · Latin America · 18 hrs ago
Montevideo cardinal calls Pope’s presence ‘a great goal’ at football stadium vigil
Cardinal Daniel Sturla welcomed the Pope in Montevideo at a prayer vigil in the city’s Centenario Stadium.
Sturla, the city’s archbishop, called having the Pope there “a great goal,” using football language familiar in Uruguay.
He said football is important in the country’s culture and people use its language to talk about life.
Sturla said Christians should not just cheer from the stands, but take part in life in their neighbourhoods, families and workplaces.
He compared wearing the Christian faith with pride to wearing Uruguay’s national colours, known as “la celeste.”
He said faith brings people together as God’s people, just as the national team’s colours unite the country.
The vigil took place in a stadium Sturla described as a temple of football.
Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo said the Pope’s presence at a prayer vigil was “a great goal,” using a football metaphor.
The vigil took place at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, a major football stadium.
Sturla said football was important in Uruguayan culture and people used its language to talk about life.
He urged Christians to take part in life in their neighbourhoods, families and workplaces.
He compared the national team’s sky-blue shirt with the Christian faith, saying faith brings people together as the people of God.
- Who
- Cardinal Daniel Sturla, the archbishop of Montevideo, spoke at the vigil in the Pope’s presence.
- What
- A prayer vigil was held at a football stadium, where Sturla described having the Pope present as “a great goal.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Speaker
- Cardinal Daniel Sturla
- Role
- Archbishop of Montevideo
- Venue
- Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
- Event
- Prayer vigil
- Event context
- The Pope was present
What people are saying
Football is very important in our culture: we talk about life in the language of football, and so we can say that having the Pope among us is a great goal.
Christ invites us to enter the field of life, and the match is played in the neighbourhood, in the family, at work.