The new Pope lived more than 15 years in Chiclayo, Peru, where there is a team founded in 1928 that carries the colors and the Cyclone shield. His classic rival is Boca Juniors of the same city.
The choice of Robert Prevost as a new Pope under the name Leo XIV left a curious fact that resonated especially among Argentines: in the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, Where the Pontiff developed much of his pastoral mission, there is a soccer club called San Lorenzo de Almagrofounded in 1928 and with a shield and colors almost identical to that of the Boedo Club.
The football bond with the Church is not new. Jorge Bergoglio, Pope Francis, was recognized fan of San Lorenzo and now his successor also has a symbolic bond with the Barca club, although from another geography. Leo XIV was born in Chicago, but lived more than 15 years as a missionary in Chiclayo, a city of about 600,000 inhabitants of the Peruvian North, where he left a strong mark.
He San Lorenzo de Almagro Sports Club From Chiclayo, also known as “Los Santos del Cercado”, currently militates in the district leagues of Peruvian football, but had a splendor era in the sixties when it reached the final instances of the Peru Cup. In 1942, during the amateur era, he was the first team in the region to defeat University of Lima.
As if the coincidence did not reach, its classic rival It is another club with Argentine inspiration: the Boca Juniors de Chiclayowho wears blue and yellow and stars with San Lorenzo the traditional “classic Chiclayano”, which is usually played at the Elías Aguirre stadium, with capacity for 25,000 people.
Although the most popular team in the region is Juan Aurich, the duels between Boca and San Lorenzo de Chiclayo have a local roots marked by passion and history. According to different local sources, the club was founded by young people from the city who wanted to honor San Lorenzo Argentino, an institution born in 1908 and with a strong link with the Catholic Church.
In the middle of the announcement of the new Pope, this curious soccer connection between Leo XIV and Francisco adds a more anecdote to the endless cross between faith and football.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
