Argentina

SCRIPT: Two years ago, this chapel was consecrated by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – now Pope Francis. For him, it had a special significance – it’s inside the stadium of San Lorenzo football club, where the new Pope is a lifelong fan. The club’s supporters are thrilled - and some are even hoping he can give the team, currently 12th in the Argentine Premier League, a bit of divine ... more 

SCRIPT: Two years ago, this chapel was consecrated by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – now Pope Francis. For him, it had a special significance – it’s inside the stadium of San Lorenzo football club, where the new Pope is a lifelong fan. The club’s supporters are thrilled - and some are even hoping he can give the team, currently 12th in the Argentine Premier League, a bit of divine help. SOUNDBITE 1, Eduardo, San Lorenzo supporter (Spanish, 14 sec) “As a San Lorenzo fan, and knowing he’s one too, it’s a great joy and we hope he can do everything possible for us, in this world and the other” [In Spanish: Como hincha de San Lorenzo y sabiendo que él también es hincha de San Lorenzo para nosotros es una gran alegría y esperamos que haga todo lo posible para ayudarnos en este y en el otro mundo.] The hand of God may give San Lorenzo a boost on the pitch – and they even hope the extra publicity might help their finances off it. The club is trying to raise the money to build a new stadium, on the site of the original ground where they were founded in 1908 – appropriately, by a priest, Lorenzo Massa. SOUNDBITE 2, Nicolas Portillo, San Lorenzo supporter (Spanish, 14 sec) “In 2 years we might have a new pitch in the Boedo area, that’s what we all want, and if he could come and bless less