In Latin America, the passion of soccer fans is nurtured through a sense of community. The singing of anthems, tears shed after victories or defeats and the embrace of strangers inside a stadium are experiences that can mirror forms of collective devotion.
NCR Vatican correspondent Justin McLellan got a belly laugh when he asked the pontiff to hold off praying for his beloved Chicago White Sox when they played the Philadelphia Phillies, the reporter's favorite team.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Catholic dioceses across the United States are preparing for what many see as both a pastoral opportunity and an unprecedented moment of global encounter.
