The Polish national team of priests claimed the gold medal at the 18th European Futsal Championship for Priests for the 10th time in the tournament’s history, with Croatia finishing second and Portugal taking third place.
By Monika Stojowska – Lublin
“We want to share our joy, celebrate with the fans, and bear witness that priests are people of passion and talent, and above all, men with God in their hearts,” said Fr. Marek Łosiak, captain of the Polish team that won the tournament.
A Message from the Vatican
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, sent a message to the national teams and the organizers.
In his message, he expressed gratitude to Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, Metropolitan Archbishop of Lublin, for hosting and organizing the event.
He also thanked the priests involved in preparing the championship, as well as the organizations that co-created and supported the initiative.
“During the recent Jubilee of Sport, the Holy Father said, ‘It is no coincidence that sport has played a significant role in the lives of many saints in our day, both as a personal discipline and as a means of evangelization.’ For this reason, I wish to offer a brief word of gratitude and encouragement to all the priests taking part in this tournament,” Cardinal de Mendonça wrote.
Leaders among eighteen teams
This year’s tournament, hosted by the city of Lublin and the Archdiocese of Lublin, was played in the sports halls of the city’s universities and brought together 18 teams of priests from across Europe, including Albania, Austria, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
The matches, held in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect, were aimed not only at competition but also at strengthening fraternity among the clergy through sport.
Launched in Austria in 2005, the tournament has, over the years, become a recognized sign of unity among European priests, transcending national borders.
