Atleti and Pope Francis: An Unbreakable Bond
The connection between Atlético de Madrid and Pope Francis goes beyond mere coincidence. The late pontiff, a man of humility and simplicity, had special ties with key figures of the rojiblanco club.
In 2009, as Cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio confirmed Ángel Correa, then in the youth ranks of San Lorenzo de Almagro, a team of which the Pope was a fan. Years later, in 2015, already as Pope Francis, he granted a private audience to Correa at the Vatican.
The Argentine striker, newly signed by Atleti, was recovering from heart surgery and the Pope wanted to show his admiration for his spirit of overcoming. A year earlier, in 2014, Diego Pablo Simeone himself had the opportunity to meet the Pope. In addition, Dr.
José María Villalón, head of Atlético’s medical services, traveled to the Vatican in November 2022 to treat Pope Francis’ knee injury. Villalón described the pontiff as a man with a great personality, very lucid and affable, although also a “stubborn” patient. These links demonstrate that the relationship between Atlético de Madrid and Pope Francis transcends sports, uniting people from different fields in values such as humility, faith and overcoming.
