Vatican cricket team set to arrive in England for Light of Faith tour

Pope Francis gave the team his blessing earlier this week. Credit: St. Peter's Cricket Club - Vatican Facebook page

The Vatican's first-ever cricket team is set to arrive in England later this week as they prepare to start the Light of Faith Tour, which culminates in a match against an Anglican Church of England XI in Canterbury.

St Peter's cricket club will arrive knowing they have the blessing of Pope Francis after the team was received in a private audience earlier this week before heading to England on Friday.

Father Tony Currer, 41, is the team's only Englishman and is club captain of a side that also includes eight Indians, two Sri Lankans and one Pakistani - all aged between 21 and 24.

Most of the younger players are seminarians who are studying to be priests in Rome.

Captain Currer, a batsman, told the Telegraph that no intimidating 'sledging' would be taking place when the Vatican side take on the Church of England XI: "Hopefully nothing will be picked up by the stump microphones but when you play you play to win."

"Normally I'm trying to agree with the Anglicans, not beat them. If one of the boys gets hit in the face by a ball it could set back ecumenical relations by decades!" Currer joked.

Pakistani seminarian Aamir Bhatti has been studying at the Vatican for three years and has been selected as the team's wicket keeper: "In Pakistan everyone likes to play cricket. I am an all-rounder. I bowl right arm medium fast, but got selected as a wicket keeper in the Vatican team," he told Dawn.com.

There is no doubt that the tour's stand out match is against the Church of England XI on 19th September and Rev. Dr. Eamonn O'Higgins, spiritual director and manager of St. Peter's said his side are very much the underdogs heading into the tie.

Pope Francis greets the team before they head to England. Credit: St. Peter's Cricket Club - Vatican Facebook page

The team was launched in October last year as part of efforts to encourage interfaith dialogue.

The Light of Faith tour begins this Friday and will include several warm-up matches including one next Wednesday against the Royal Household at Windsor castle.

The team will also be praying at various holy shrines together with their ecumenical partners and raising funds for the Global Freedom Network, which fights against modern slavery and human trafficking.

Former England cricket captain David Gower even had a few words for the papal side on their Facebook page: "It's fantastic - almost in the fullest sense! - that St. Peter's Cricket team is here in England and playing in my old school town, Canterbury... All best wishes, in the Christian spirit, to both sides."

Light of Faith Tour dates:

  • 13 September 2014, match against the Chaplains of Armed Forces, Aldershot, 1pm

  • 14 September 2014, match against St Peter's Club, Preston Park, Brighton, 2.30pm

  • 15 September 2014, match against the Authors XI, Ascott House, 2pm

  • 17 September 2014, match against the Royal Household, Windsor castle. (No admission for the general public due to security reasons.)

  • 19 September 2014, match against Anglican XI, Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence Canterbury (Kent), 4pm