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Pope Francis plays with Natale Tonini, president of Sport Toscana Calcio Balilla association, at the end of the weekly general audience, Wednesday, Aug.18. 2021. Francis played a round on the table that was presented to him by representatives of a the association, that created a special Foosball table designed to be inclusive, for people with physical disabilities, to encourage their participation in sport. (Vatican Media via AP)

Soccer-loving Pope Francis gets a new toy: a foosball table

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 2:40 PM ET Aug. 18, 2021

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has received dozens of soccer jerseys and game balls during his eight-year pontificate but he got a new football-themed toy on Wednesday: his very own foosball table.

Francis played a round on the table that was presented to him at the end of his general audience by representatives of a Tuscany-based table football association, Sport Toscana Calcio Balilla in Altopascio.

The mayor of Altopascio, Sara D’Ambrosio, wrote on Facebook that the table was designed to be inclusive and work well for people with physical disabilities to encourage their participation in sport.

The Argentine-born pope is a well-known lover of soccer and his beloved San Lorenzo soccer club in Buenos Aires. He has long promoted sport as a way to promote solidarity and inclusion, especially for young people.