Pope Francis receives signed jersey from Messi

FILE PHOTO: A big football fan, Pope Francis was earlier presented Spain’s national team jersey by Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

Vatican City - Pope Francis was presented with a jersey signed by Argentine football star Messi by a group of priests during Wednesday’s public audience.

Messi’s FC Barcelona jersey will join the Spanish national team jersey given to the pontiff on Monday by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during an audience at the Vatican.

The 76-year-old Argentine-born pope, a big football fan, has been building up quite a collection of jerseys.

His favourite team, Atletico San Lorenzo, recently presented the pope, a season ticket holder, with a jersey.