Diego Maradona, Roberto Baggio join other soccer stars at Pope Francis-backed charity match for peace

The Argentine pope, an avid soccer fan, did not attend the match but had an audience with both teams earlier. The inter-religious game raised money for at-risk kids.


                 



             



                 



                         



                      




Pope Francis poses in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Monday, ahead of an interreligious soccer match for peace.


ROME — Diego Maradona and Roberto Baggio were among a host of former soccer stars who played in an interreligious charity match backed by Pope Francis on Monday night.

The Argentine pope, an avid soccer fan, did not attend the match but had an audience with both teams earlier in the day and also broadcast a message on the big screens at Rome's Olympic Stadium ahead of kickoff.

The idea arose during an audience former Argentina great Javier Zanetti had with Francis last year. As well as promoting peace, the game raised money for at-risk kids.