Pope Francis is set to make history tonight, becoming the first pontiff to address a Super Bowl.
The pope has recorded a video message that will be shown to tens of thousands of fans during the Super Bowl LI game between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons as a “sign of peace, friendship and solidarity to the world.”
“Great sporting events like today’s Super Bowl are highly symbolic, showing that it is possible to build a culture of encounter and a world of peace,” Francis says. “By participating in sport, we are able to go beyond our own self-interest and in a healthy way we learn to sacrifice, to grow in fidelity and respect the rules.”
In his pre-recorded message, the pope says, “May this year’s Super Bowl be a sign of peace, friendship, and solidarity to the world.
Francis has previously spoken of his enjoyment of the World Cup and Olympics.
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