Juventus, AC Milan footballers meet Pope before Coppa Italia final

Rome, May 20: Juventus and AC Milan footballers met Pope Francis on Friday ahead of the Coppa Italia final to be held here on Saturday.

The two Italian giants will lock horns on Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico.

The two teams were flanked by the Serie A president Maurizio Beretta and invited for an interaction with the Pope, reported football-italia.net.

“Be champions in sport, but especially champions in life,” the Pope advised the players.

“Your presence gives me an opportunity to praise your professional skills and your nice traditions, those belonging to your clubs and to the football environment in general.

“I think of the many fans, particularly the young ones, who follow you enthusiastically. You have the attention and the admiration of these people, and you are therefore expected to behave in such a way that they may always see your human qualities, as athletes who uphold the true values of sports.”