Top photo caption: The World Cup replica and the cut out of Pope Leo XIV triggered a lot of attention in St. David the King Parish. Mike Ehrmann photos
By David Karas, Correspondent
Massgoers in St. David the King Church, Princeton Junction, were treated to a fun and educational surprise in late June – bringing together a guest “appearance” from the Holy Father and an exhibit about the summer’s international soccer craze.
A full-sized replica of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, acquired some years ago by Father Jason Parzynski, pastor, was on display in the church’s gathering space – and available for selfies and photos – after Masses June 27-28. Also gracing the display was a life-size cut-out of Pope Leo XIV.
“With Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical building upon the social teaching first articulated by Pope Leo XIII, it’s a wonderful opportunity to highlight the Catholic roots of the FIFA World Cup,” Father Parzynski told The Monitor. “Add to that the excitement of the United States serving as one of the host nations, and there is already a great deal of enthusiasm surrounding the tournament.”
With World Cup matches being played in nearby Philadelphia, and the final slated for East Rutherford, the tournament has prompted excitement throughout the region, and across the host nations of the United States, Canada and Mexico as fans cheer on their favorite team. The iconic trophy has adorned stadium facades, advertisements and social media posts about the famed tournament.
Still, what is perhaps less known, Father Parzynski said, is the Catholic roots of the sporting event.
“The FIFA World Cup was the vision of Jules Rimet, a devout French Catholic who served as FIFA president for 33 years and oversaw the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930,” a social media post from the parish shared. “His dream for the tournament was inspired in part by Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, which upheld the dignity of every human person, the importance of solidarity, and care for working people.”
According to published reports from EWTN News, Rimet was born in 1873 to a devout Catholic family in a French village, and his care for the poor was inspired by Catholic social teaching. After Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical on labor exploitation and poverty, the then-17-year-old launched an organization to provide social and medical help to the poor. He saw sports as a means to unite racial and social classes, and founded a sports club that did just that. In 1904, he helped launch the International Federation of Association Football – FIFA.
The Frenchman saw the World Cup as a chance to bring nations together – even at times of war, and even as a means to prevent future war through building relationships and camaraderie.
Father Parzynski hopes that the display will offer a chance to educate parishioners about the faith-based roots and spirit of the World Cup.
“The display not only helps bring awareness to the Catholic foundation of the World Cup competition,” he said, “but also gives our more social media-minded parishioners and visitors a fun opportunity to snap a memorable photo while learning something about the history of the tournament.”