Barcelona invites new Pope to Camp Nou

In an open letter, president Sandro Rosell says it would be a privilege to have the head of the Catholic Church at the stadium watching fellow Argentines such as Lionel Messi.

The Pope has been invited by Barcelona president Sandro Rosell to come and watch a game at Camp Nou.

The new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis I, is an avid supporter of his hometown club San Lorenzo and has been subject to plenty of attention from teams since his appointment in the Vatican last month.

Argentina stars such as four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and former Liverpool ace Javier Mascherano currently grace the Blaugrana squad, and Rosell claims it would be a privilege to have the religious figurehead attend a game.

He said in a letter published in El Mundo Deportivo: "As president of Barcelona it is an honor to share with you more than football as our common interest, as the matching colors of our teams are more than evident.

"I would welcome you to attend to watch a match from the box at Camp Nou and enjoy our players, mainly your fellow compatriots Messi and Mascherano, who have supported this greeting by their signature on this letter.”