The Vatican cricket team is going to London for their tenth ‘Light of Faith’ tour. This trip aims to build friendships between the Catholic Church and the UK. The team, made up of seminarians and priests from Rome, will play matches against the England Over 60s, St Mary’s University, and King Charles’ team. The tour also aims to spread messages of friendship, unity, and hope.
Since its formation in 2014, the Vatican cricket team has visited various countries, including Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Kenya, Malta, Spain, and the UK. These tours have consistently aimed to build bridges and foster peaceful relations through sports. The players act as ‘ambassadors’ for the Catholic priesthood, often being the only Catholic priests many people will encounter.
Vatican Cricket Team Heads to London for Friendship Tour
The Vatican (St. Peter’s) Cricket Team is part of Athletica Vaticana, an organization that brings together all the Vatican’s athletes. Pope Francis has praised Athletica Vaticana for promoting fraternity, inclusion, and solidarity, particularly in the current challenging times. He highlighted the role of sport in building bridges, breaking down barriers, and fostering peaceful relations.
The Vatican team will arrive in London on Friday, June 28. Their first two matches will be against the England Over 60s at Wormsley Estate on Saturday, June 29. They will then face St. Mary’s University at Arundel Castle on Monday, July 1. The highly anticipated match against King’s XI will take place at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, July 3.
The tour will conclude with a visit to Westminster Abbey on Thursday, July 4, before the team returns to Rome on June 5. Vatican News will accompany the team throughout the tour, providing regular updates and match reports to keep everyone informed about their activities and progress.
