17:03 | Vatican City, Dec. 22.
Italian-Peruvian soccer striker Gianluca Lapadula was seen giving Pope Francis a Peruvian national soccer team jersey, which the Supreme Pontiff gladly received, and shaking hands with him during a public event.
As captured in a video that has gone viral on social media, the Pope shook hands with "Lapagol" after a brief dialogue and then handed the Peruvian jersey to one of the security guards to continue his walk.
Afterwards, the Peruvian national team's striker posed proudly in front of the Christmas Nativity Scene from Chopcca —a community in the Peruvian Andean region of Huancavelica— set up at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City.
Then, he signed autographs and posed for selfies with fans who were nearby.
Lapadula
Peru's national team striker, Gianluca Lapadula, is one of the main players in the Italy's Benevento team and has played a key role in Peru's recovery in the
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers; going from sitting in the penultimate spot in the standings to climbing into the qualifying places.
(END) LIQ/RMB
Published: 12/22/2021