World Cup 2026: Pope Leo XIV says 'whoever doesn't know how to pass the ball hasn't understood the game'

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Pope Leo XIV has shared reflections on soccer, drawing parallels between the sport and the essence of life. He emphasized that the game, like life itself, is not a solo performance but a journey undertaken together.

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He who does not know how to pass the ball, even if he has talent, has not yet understood the game.

"He who does not know how to pass the ball, even if he has talent, has not yet understood the game," the pontiff stated on his X account. Pope Leo XIV, currently on a tour in Spain, stressed that this principle extends beyond the field. He added, "He who does not know how to live with others and for others has not yet understood life."

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He who does not know how to live with others and for others has not yet understood life.

The leader of the Catholic Church, originally from the United States, one of the World Cup's host nations, further elaborated on Christian values. He urged believers to be not only kind and amiable but also compassionate, loving selflessly and seeking the well-being of others.

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Dear brothers, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent.

During a homily delivered at the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Pope Leo XIV issued a veiled critique of war and indifference to suffering. "Dear brothers, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent," he declared to thousands of faithful, including Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. He continued, "We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who cry, those who flee from misery," advocating for the welcoming of migrants.

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We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who cry, those who flee from misery.