The Variety Club of France received at the Vatican by Pope Francis

Romain Rouillard 19:29 pm, March 22, 2023

Passing through the eternal city, the Variétés Club de France took the opportunity to meet the sovereign pontiff on Wednesday. The association, which brings together several personalities from the world of football for charitable purposes, is traveling to Rome until Thursday to face a team of priests and seminarians from the Vatican. The group, led by Jean-Michel Larqué, former star of AS Saint-Étienne in the 1970s, was received by Pope Francis in the morning after attending a mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

Unique ✨
moment The @VarietesCF received by Pope Francis @Pontifex_fr at the Vatican! pic.twitter.com/WeNDWD6Bdo

— Varieties C.F. (@VarietesCF) March 22, 2023

The head of the Catholic Church was presented with a VCF jersey from its president, Karl Olive. The sovereign pontiff then exchanged a few words with Jacques Vendroux, general manager of the team and also journalist for Europe 1 before receiving various gifts from Jean-Michel Larqué or Wilfrid Mbappé, father of the new captain of the Blues Kylian Mbappé. Later in the day, the members of the VCF headed to the Olympic Stadium in Rome to put on the crampons.

Dream morning in the Vatican thanks to the @VarietesCF@JacquesVendroux and @EGobilliard: Morning Mass at St. Peter's and audience of the @Pontifex_fr! Official photo and little confidence, François was a goalkeeper! @Europe1@Europe1Sport1@KARLOLIVE@dominicgrimault@Geraud_nimopic.twitter.com/EVBX8b3V8C

— Cyrille de La Morinerie (@Morinerie) March 22, 2023

Beautiful people on the lawn

In the starting 11 were two 1998 world champions with Robert Pirès and Christian Karembeu. Former Roma player Olivier Dacourt and Claude Puel, former coach of Lyon, Saint-Étienne and Lille have also walked the pitch. Not to mention Arsène Wenger, manager of Arsenal in England for 22 years.

✨ The starting 11th of the VCF
V.Magniez - K.Olive - C.Karembeu - A.Wenger - V.Candela - E.Gobilliard - O.Dacourt - W.Mbappe - C.Puel - R.Pires - PY. Andrew pic.twitter.com/vBW0BCKmyy

— Varieties C.F. (@VarietesCF) March 22, 2023

Created in 1971, the association has played 2,440 matches during which more than 5 million euros have been donated to various associations. The meetings take place every Saturday afternoon. The latest, held in Porcheville in the Yvelines, raised 1,600 euros for "Le rêve de Colyne", an association intended to help a young girl with multiple disabilities. The next match will take place on Sunday, March 26 in Marcoussis in Essonne, for the benefit of "Football School". In October 2021, President Emmanuel Macron himself donned the sky blue jersey of the Variétés club de France in front of a team of caregivers. The funds were donated to the Hospital Foundation.