'Hand of God' delivered Argentine pope: Maradona

'Hand of God' delivered Argentine pope: Maradona

ROME- Agence France-Presse

Diego Maradona. AFP Photo

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona says the fabled "hand of God" was at work once more in delivering the papacy to his country.
 
"What joy," Maradona wrote to Italian daily Il Messaggero. "In my country the 'hand of God' has now brought about an Argentine pope." Maradona, whose handball goal helped Argentina to beat England and pave the way to World Cup glory in 1986, described himself as a "fervent Catholic".
 
"Having a pope from our country is a great honour for all of Argentina," he wrote in the letter published Thursday.
 
Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Latin American pontiff, defied expert predictions with his election Wednesday, becoming Pope Francis.

LATEST NEWS

  1. Syria's territorial integrity 'non-negotiable,' Fidan says

  2. Crimean Tatar official named as Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara

  3. CHP's Özel urges 'fair burden sharing' in migration crisis

  4. Trade Ministry eases border procedures for returning Syrians

  5. Parliament approves 2025 budget after weeks of talks
Recommended

Syria's territorial integrity 'non-negotiable,' Fidan says

2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire'

Greece’s former royal family seeks to reclaim citizenship

Winter hitting Gaza as many have little protection from the cold

Syria’s interim government begins to take shape

India child marriage crackdown reaches nearly 5,000 arrests

Ukraine drone hits Russian high-rise 1,000km from frontline
WORLD

Syria's territorial integrity 'non-negotiable,' Fidan says

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, emphasized on Dec. 22 that Syria’s territorial integrity is “non-negotiable” and reiterated there is no place for the PKK/YPG terror group in the country.
ECONOMY

Türkiye to receive larger foreign capital: Chamber head

Türkiye is expected to receive larger foreign capital and resource inflows next year as its economy becomes increasingly more stable and incentives investors, according to Erdal Bahçıvan, chairman of the board of directors of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO).

SPORTS

Fenerbahçe in tatters after Athletic loss

Fenerbahçe headed into turbulent times after a home loss in the Europa League against Athletic Bilbao on Dec. 11 night added to the club’s wounds and sparked fan protests.