Pope's message to 2014 World Cup: No to racism, greed

A video message from Pope Francis has been delivered to the organisers, players and fans participating in the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil ahead of today's opening match between Brazil and Croatia. Delivered in Portuguese, the message expresses the Holy Father’s hope that, in addition to a celebration of sport, this World Cup can be transformed into a festival of solidarity between peoples.

In the message he said football teaches three lessons that can promote peace and solidarity around the world: the need to train and work hard to reach goals, the importance of fair play and teamwork, and the need to respect and honour opponents."To win, we must overcome individualism, selfishness, all forms of racism, intolerance and manipulation of people," he said. He said being "greedy" in football, as in life, is an obstacle.

"Let nobody turn their back on society and feel excluded!" he said. "No to segregation! No to racism!"

The message goes on to say sport is not only a form of entertainment, but also a tool to communicate the values that promote the good of the human person and help to build a more peaceful and fraternal coexistence.

The Holy Father’s message also discusses the importance of sport in moral education, since the sporting spirit is one that teaches the need for discipline, effort and sacrifice to succeed and achieve excellence – becoming a constant reminder of the sacrifices necessary to grow in the virtues that build the character of a person. Football can and should be a school for the formation of a "culture of encounter"he said, leading to harmony and peace among peoples – teaching as it does the value of fair play and authentic team effort – values, the message concludes, without which all of society is damaged.

Pope Francis, is a lifelong fan of the Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo, but back in February when he met President Dilma Rousseff, who gave him a national team jersey signed by football great Pele and a ball signed by Ronaldo, he joked that he be tempted to root for Brazil. The president asked him at least to be neutral.

There isn't a TV in Pope Francis' room at Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican hasn't said yet whether he will be watching the games.