Soccer tourney inspires Austrian, Swiss evangelization drive

By Jonathan Luxmoore
Catholic News Service

OXFORD, England -- Taking inspiration from sports references in St. Paul’s letters, Catholic church leaders in Austria and Switzerland plan an evangelization drive for the Euro 2008 soccer championship in June.

The churches’ program, “On the Ball for 2008 Years,” would help make the tournament an opportunity for building understanding among young Europeans, organizers said.

“Sport isn’t the most important thing in human life, but it’s an occasion for bringing people from very different backgrounds together,” said Erich Leitenberger, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Vienna, Austria. “Vienna itself is home to Christian communities of every European language, and we hope to make approaches to the thousands coming here with their help. The government and sports organizations have welcomed our church initiatives.”

This year’s Union of European Football Associations Cup tournament will be held in eight cities in Austria and Switzerland. The tournament is held every four years, and the associations cover 54 European countries.

Leitenberger told Catholic News Service April 30 that Auxiliary Bishop Franz Lackner of Graz, who heads the Austrian church’s sports commission, would outline plans for the championship during a May 7 meeting with Pope Benedict XVI; Reinhold Lopatka, Austria’s state secretary for sports; and players from the soccer league.

“When so many people come together, there are always problems, so we’ll be helping those in need, as well as witnessing to Gospel truths in a simple, direct way,” said Leitenberger. “At least 300 young missionaries will distribute leaflets and talk about life’s key questions, as well as offering hospitality and friendship to the enormous crowds expected here.”

Sixteen national teams are competing in the June championship, which kicks off June 7 with matches between Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Basel, Switzerland, and Portugal and Turkey in Geneva. The finals are scheduled for Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium June 29.

Among church initiatives for the contest, which was won by Greece in 2004, a “festival of faith” is to be staged during the final and messages in lights are to be screened above the stadiums in four cities.

Ecumenical services are also to be held in all churches, and a special red and white scarf with the logo “Churches 08” will be distributed for the competition.

In a pastoral letter last December, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna said soccer, like the Christian faith, required “teamwork where each participant trains for a common aim” and “one gets ready to take the place of the other and a sense of clean struggle reigns.”

“These soccer events will offer young people from various countries a chance to meet,” said the cardinal, who heads the Austrian bishops’ conference.