All Nike NBA 2024-25 City Edition Jerseys Released
See Now

Because Of... Francesco Totti Gives Pope Special Jersey With Number 1 Instead of 10

Francesco Totti played 90 minutes as Roma ran out 2-1 winners against San Lorenzo guests at the Stadio Olimpico. And while AS Roma not only wore a special shirt in the game, the squad of legendary captain Francesco Totti even met the Pope the day ahead of the match - with the squad handing over Pope Francis a very special AS Roma away jersey.

Francesco Totti Gives Pope Francis Shirt With Number 1 As Nod to the Pope's Beginnings as Goalkeeper

Here is the special jersey Totti handed over Pope Francis on Friday.

The squad and coaching staff – led by Luciano Spalletti – donated a special jersey to Pope Francis featuring the official logo of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy during the audience. The back of the shirt bore the name 'Francesco', with the number 1 underneath – a nod to the Pope's childhood days spent playing in goal.

In the match, Francesco Totti, who usually has Totti on the back of his jersey, also used a shirt with Francesco on the back, while he used his normal shirt number 10, logically.

The Holy Father was delighted to receive the jersey and was kind enough to sign it so that it could be put up for auction to raise funds for the earthquake emergency.