Padel, the racket given to Pope Francis at an auction for charity – Corriere.it

In ArgentinaThe padel, a religion. And today, in the Vatican, the International Padel Federation has brought a racket to the most famous Argentinian in the world, Pope Francis. His signature is on the altarpiece that will be auctioned in favor of the Vatican pediatric dispensary Santa Marta, to support the reception service for 500 poor families with small children. The Pope received and encouraged the promoters of this concrete solidarity initiative through sport: the International Padel Federation and Athletica Vaticana, the official multi-sports association of the Holy See. Luigi Carraro, president of the International Padel Federation, and Alessandra Turco, director of Vatican Padel were present at the meeting with the Popebut also the vice-champion of the world Dolphina Brea and, on the Vatican side, Davide De Santis, the youngest player at 21 years old.

A single racket, the same for everyone, all over the world – the words of the president of the international federation Luigi Carraro – the symbolic power of the “padel shovel” signed by the Holy Fatherimagining that in every corner of the world every player, amateur or professional, holds his racket as if it were that of Pope Francis and therefore be a messenger of loyalty, solidarity, friendship, inclusion and motivation with the aim of learning, growing, improving as people through sport. As His Holiness said recently “Sport is a metaphor for life” and if the proceeds from this racket can improve that of the families supported by the Vatican Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary, we will undoubtedly have won the most beautiful and important trophy in the world.

The entire proceeds from the sale of the racket – which will take place on the Bullpadel channels – will be delivered to the Santa Marta Dispensary: ​​Pope Francis’s neighbors. For 101 years this concrete solidarity network – entrusted to the Vincentian nuns – has welcomed poor families, with small children, of different nationalities, cultures and religions, guaranteeing – in addition to food and diapers – above all the possibility of free specialist visits thanks to the availability of many doctors.