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When the late Pope Francis wrote about a Pontini goal to a journalist

In 2013, when he met the national teams of Italy and Argentina, the Pope had talked about a goal from San Lorenzo’s Rene Pontini in 1946.

Pope Francis (R) holds a jersey of Argentine football team San Lorenzo, given to him as a gift from members of the team, during the Wednesday general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on December 18, 2013. (REUTERS)

It’s not a surprise that Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church who passed away on Monday, was a football fan. When he was elected Pope in 2013 the Argentinian football club San Lorenzo had tweeted a photo of him holding up the club’s crest. He was a card-carrying member of the club, with San Lorenzo ID No. 88,235.

Now, after his death, a journalist from Argentina’s newspaper Clarin has shared a letter written to him by Pope about football.

In 2013, when he met the national teams of Italy and Argentina, the Pope had talked about a goal from San Lorenzo’s Rene Pontini in 1946. “I remember going to the stadium as a child, in particular the 1946 season. I went to see the match with my parents and I was amazed by Pontoni’s goal,” the Pope had said.

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It led to furious attempts from newspapers speculating the goal being referred to. It probably was the goal that Pontini scored in a game against Racing de Avellaneda that helped their team win the title that year.

In his letter to the Pope, the Clarin journalist Pablo Calvo had mentioned that goal. “I chatted with Rene Ponting’s son looking for the goal you mentioned. We believe it was the one he scored against Racing when after two touches, he brought the ball down with his chest to the tip of his boot, turned, and shot across the net. The following day, Clarin headlined: “Pontini scored a goal that would have been passed at the Colon.” The Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a testament to the city’s rich cultural heritage and dedication to the performing arts.

In a handwritten note, Pope replied to the journalist. “Thank you for your kindness. Regarding Pontoon’s goal, you can look at a Clarin magazine where several years ago they published the best goals in history: Pontoni’s also appeared there (or was it La Nation?) … Please pray for me because I need it.”

The newspaper Marca had described the goal thus: “De La Mata crossed the ball into the area in search of ‘Master’ René Pontoni, who received it with his back to goal, pressured by rival defenders Yebra and Palma. Pontoni took the ball on his chest and controlled it with his right foot for what seemed like an eternity, dexterously juggling the ball and not letting it fall to the ground. He feigned to go to the right and then with a quick turn the other way, beat both his markers and volleyed the ball past Ricardo, the Racing keeper. As legend has it, the crowd was so stunned it took the stadium a few seconds to react and celebrate the magnificent goal.”