A LESSON FOR CELTIC FROM POPE FRANCIS
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Celtic have never been a football club defined purely by religious identity. We have always welcomed fans and players of all faiths.
However, the origin of our club, founded by a Marist Brother, as a ray of hope emerging from the tragedies of famine and forced relocation in Ireland, means that we retain deep links to the Roman Catholic Church.
So, I’m sure many of you reading this will have been saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis yesterday at the age of 88.
Though I decided to take a step back from organized religion in my teenage years, I still respected Pope Francis.
I believed him to be a man of honor, faith and principle.
These are traits that, regardless of our chosen faith, I’m sure we can all agree are positive things that we should all aspire to.
Pontiff’s Passing Reminds Celtic of the Responsibility we Carry as a Club and as Supporters
The image of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers alongside the late Pontiff, taken in Rome back in 2023, has been splashed across numerous newspapers and websites this morning, in Scotland and beyond.
However, little has been said, about the context of that meeting, and of what Pope Francis actually thought about Celtic and our role in society.
It turns out, that for an elderly man who, by most accounts, knew little of Scotland, Pope Francis was pretty clued up on Celtic, and what we stand for.
The Pope spoke of his respect for Celtic, upon meeting the manager and players in Rome two years ago.
He said: "Celtic Football Club was founded in 1887 with the specific goal of alleviating poverty in the City of Glasgow.
"This was truly a charitable undertaking for the sake of the neediest of our brothers and sisters.”
High praise from a global leader of 1.4 billion people.
This quote alone, courteous and respectful though it was, could easily be dismissed as just something one of The Vatican’s staff scripted for the Pontiff to say as a platitude to visiting guests.
However, he did not stop there. Pope Francis was a man who liked to speak his mind, and he did so about Celtic that day too.
He continued: “Yet, how much the world of football has changed since then - in particular, the financial footprint of the ‘Beautiful Game’ has greatly increased, and at times can risk making football only attractive for reasons of monetary profit.”
Indeed, on this point, His Holiness and I are in complete agreement.
Pope Francis then turned to the future, his papacy was after all, one that will be remembered for his attempts to make the church more modern and inclusive in many ways.
He added: "The valued legacy of your club, then, places a heavy responsibility upon your shoulders, reminding you to be good role-models, especially for young people."
I think, however, perhaps the most important thing Pope Francis had to say about Celtic came in his closing remarks.
He said: “The standards you are called to set concern not only your abilities as sportsmen and the classic qualities required to excel, but are also about your personal integrity.
"In this regard, men and women should see in you not just fine footballers but also people of kindness, big-hearted men who know how to be wise stewards of the many benefits you receive from your privileged positions within society.”
Great words, from a great man. I have faith that we the Celtic support, will ensure his words are adhered to in the years, decades, and hopefully centuries ahead for our club.
Celtic aren’t just a football team; we are a social institution. We have the power to influence the lives of millions.
With such huge power, there also comes huge responsibility. Pope Francis never forgot that, and remained humble throughout his papacy.
I hope Celtic’s custodians, present and future, have the strength of character to do the same.
Pope Francis, thank you.
Requiescat in Pace.