The ambassadors of the United States, Mexico, and Canada brought it to St. Peter's

The ambassadors of Mexico, the United

States, and Canada to the Holy See jointly presented Pope Leo

XIV with the official World Cup ball, after the tournament began

last Thursday in the three North American countries, at the end

of his weekly general audience Wednesday.

The three diplomats, according to Vatican daily L'Osservatore

Romano, wanted to "celebrate the power of sport as an instrument

of peace, fraternity, respect, and unity among peoples" with

this gift.

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