A Benfica delegation led by President Rui Costa and several club directors was received this Thursday by Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican as part of the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the coat of arms of Lisbon.
The audience was attended by Patriarch Rui Valerio of Lisbon and Canon Paulo Franco at a meeting where Rui Costa presented the Pope with a club shirt with the name Francisco written on it.
“Rui Costa thanked Santo Padre for his willingness to host the delegation of Sport Lisbon and Benfica in a year in which the club proudly celebrates its 120th anniversary, and expressed, on behalf of all Benfica fans, his great honor to be received at the Vatican by the Pope Francis,” the club said in a statement.
At the meeting, the Pope also “expressed the great affection he has for Portugal, the Portuguese and Fatima.”
Benfica, founded on February 28, 1904 under the name Sport Lisbon, celebrated its 120th anniversary on Thursday.