Pope Lennon I
After the Pope admonishes Italian footballers (soccer players for my American readers) for making the sign of the cross before matches, I had to - yet again - cock an eyebrow and say "what the...?" Italy’s soccer manager Roberto Mancini says he made a Sign of the Cross during games but “then we went to the Pope” who said, “‘Why are you making the Sign of the Cross, don't you have other thoughts at that time?' So since then I don't do it. I don't want to make the Pope angry” https://t.co/SLH2NrdDXT — Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) December 23, 2019 The Pope has previously caused a great deal of consternation by not making the sign of the cross, on numerous occasions he has refused to give his apostolic blessing at an audience: This morning Pope Francis met with the Italian Red Cross. The Pope refused to give his Apostolic Blessing, probably as not to offend the handful of non-Catholics. Instead saying "I ask the blessing of God - God the Father ...