Pope Francis' soccer club card conceals a mysterious 'destiny'

Paper Francis, the Fanatic Soccer Devotee:

Ever since he ascended to the throne of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope remained stubbornly Argentinian at heart. And nothing underscores this affection more vividly than the unlikeliest yet most fitting of symbols - his membership card to his favorite soccer club, San Lorenzo.

Pope Francis, a lifelong soccer enthusiast and occassional youth goalkeeper, is a dues-paying member of his beloved club. The number that's been the talk of Buenos Aires? It's 88235, assigned to none other than "regular member" Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Pope’s birth name. And as countless individuals have pointed out, Francis clocked 88 years before he breathed his last, at 2:35 a.m. Argentina time on Easter Monday.

"It's fate, no doubt," said Ramiro Rodríguez, sporting a rosary over his team shirt at a modest chapel that's the spiritual cradle of the club. "This has to be divine intervention."

The number resonates profoundly in Argentina, where soccer is a matter of life and death. San Lorenzo, colloquially known as "El Ciclón," is one of the nation's "big five" teams, founded in 1908 by Father Lorenzo Massa[2][3]. It's a club that boasts a rich history, dramatically shaping the country's football culture.

For Rodríguez, aSan Lorenzo fanatic, it was a personal and timely reminder of their relationship with the Pope, who visited the Vatican wearing his San Lorenzo jersey and had a Swiss Guard update him on match scores. The Pope once wrote he loved sport not just for competition, but for participation, believing games taught young people to engage with the world[4].

In a preface the late Pope penned for an upcoming book by Cardinal Angelo Scola, he left an eloquent message about aging and death. "Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something," he wrote. As those who knew him well probable, he would've appreciated the warmth and good humor of the desire to find meaning in his soccer club membership number.

Omar Abboud, a prominent Muslim leader in Argentina, knew the Pope well as Jorge and recalls his quick wit, good humor, and intelligence. They founded The Institute of Interreligious Dialogue together in 2002[5], and he acknowledges that while the Pope was a good friend, words are inadequate to express his grief.

The body of Pope Francis lay in St. Peter's Basilica for three days, while in his hometown of Buenos Aires, flowers and messages were left in tribute at his childhood home and the church where he received his call to join the priesthood. The light of San Lorenzo shone through the grief, with the team wearing commemorative jerseys to honor the late pontiff, and talk of a new stadium bearing the name "Papa Francisco."

For fans of San Lorenzo and the Pope alike, his love for the club transcended mere fandom. As a gift to the world, he left behind a legacy defined by community, culture, and a deeply ingrained love for the beautiful game.

Sources:[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Lorenzo_de_Almagro[2] https://www.messiejesus.com/articles/pope-francis-faith/[3] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/argentinas-beloved-san-lorenzo-club-is-struggling-to-pay-its-players[4] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-says-he-doesnt-watch-tv-a8400681.html[5] https://www.bayescenter.gatech.edu/articles/pope-francis-muslim-leader-omar-abbu-found-peaceful-common-ground-new-book

Although Pope Francis is a world leader, his love for sports, particularly football, and his dedication to San Lorenzo, a European-league football club from Buenos Aires, remain significant.
A closefriend and prominent Muslim leader in Argentina, Omar Abboud, recalls Pope Francis's enduring charm and wit, especially during their shared endeavors like the Institute of Interreligious Dialogue he founded with the late Pope.
The number 88235, which Pope Francis shares with his football club membership, holds deep symbolism in Argentina, strongly linking his personal and religious life.
Ramiro Rodríguez, a passionate San Lorenzo fanatic, believes the connection between the Pope and his football club reflects a divine intervention and is a testament to the former pontiff's devotion to both faith and sports.