The Catholic News Agency reports that L’Osservatore Romano has reprinted some 1985 comments by then-cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the World Cup and what its fans call “the beautiful game”:
“The fascination with soccer,” he wrote, “lies essentially in that it forces man to discipline himself, such that, through training, he acquires dominion over himself. Through dominion, he achieves superiority. And through superiority, freedom.”
Soccer, he continued, teaches the person the value of “disciplined cooperation” and demands an ordering of the individual within the group. “It unites through a common objective; the success or failure of each one is tied to the success or failure of the group.”
Cardinal Ratzinger ended his meditation on the game with these words, “If we look deeper, the phenomenon of a world excited over soccer can provide us more than mere entertainment.”
The future pope’s reflections on soccer (or football, if you prefer) first appeared in the book Suchen was droben ist (“Seek that which is above”).
June 22nd, 2010 | 7:22 pm
More importantly, Germany 3 Ghana 0
June 23rd, 2010 | 3:35 am
The second paragraph is a truism of all team sports. As for the first paragraph – well, it seems that little Joseph Ratzinger should have gotten out to the football pitch a bit more….
June 23rd, 2010 | 8:46 am
Actually…golf is life writ small…team games teach some things well…however, there is nothing like standing over that unmoving white ball…it’s all up to the swing…and before the swing, the attitude of the swinger.
Golf is life.
June 23rd, 2010 | 9:10 am
I’ve played for thirty years and find his first paragraph beautiful and true.
June 23rd, 2010 | 9:50 am
If St. Augustine’s Algeria and Germany advance then will Pope Benedict be conflicted in the round of 16?
June 23rd, 2010 | 10:05 am
Seems like something that Nietsche might equally have written.
June 23rd, 2010 | 6:56 pm
In the 1990 World Cup semi final match in Torino Italy, Germany defeated England. After, we evaded police in riot gear, weaving between vandalized German cars parked around the stadium. Will the less politically correct ways of enjoying clashes between rivals ever return? How fantastic that the two futball titians will clash again twenty years later, this Sunday!
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