Pope Francis and his love for football: "I watched the game!"

As the Pope drove into St Peter's square on Wednesday morning on his Popemobile he was greeted with throngs of worshippers there for the Papal Audience, but one individual in the crowd had other matters on his mind. "El Ciclón! We won yesterday!" screamed the attendee, in reference to Argentinean side San Lorenzo, nicknamed El Ciclón (Cyclone), who beat Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores in Buenos Aires earlier that morning, European time (kick off was at quarter-past midnight CEST).

The Pope confirms he watched San Lorenzo win

The Pope, who is a self-confessed San Lorenzo supporter, heard the fan shouting and responded by saying "I watched it!", with his body language indicating that there was never any doubt he would have been tuned in to watch his favourite football team play in South America's premier club competition.

San Lorenzo beat Palmeiras 1-0 at home and now top Copa Libertadores Group F having played three of their six games. Their next game in the tournament is the reverse fixture away to Palmeiras on 9 May.

Curiously it's not entirely clear how the Pope the watched the game as no broadcaster currently holds the rights to show the group stages of the Copa Libertadores in Italy or the Vatican.

The Pope was in the football news earlier this week, after being asked on Spanish TV show Salvados if it was a sacrilege to call Messi God. The Pope admitted that Messi is very, very good at football, but did confirm that he is not in fact God.