site.btaPope Francis Invites Bulgarian Football Legend Stoichkov to Soccer Match for Peace

Pope Francis has invited Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov to participate in the 3rd Soccer March for Peace, it transpires from a Facebook post by Stoichkov. The sporting and interreligious event will take place in Rome on October 10.

In his Facebook post, Stoichkov writes it is a great honor for him that Pope Francis has invited him to take part in the Soccer Match for Peace. "It will be great to play with many friends of mine. Pope Francis is a big champion of sport and football I am sure that his words will reach millions!" the post reads.

The Soccer Match for Peace is promoted by Pope Francis with the main objective to send through sport a message of peace and unity to the entire world, the official website of the event says. The participants are the most important professional football players and most renowned football legends from all around the globe, from different religious denominations and beliefs.

The previous two editions of the Soccer Match for Peace were held at the Olympic Stadium in Rome in 2014 and 2016. Among the 100 stars who participated were Diego Amando Maradona, Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho, Del Piero, Gianluiggi Buffon, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo, Diego Simeone, Javier Mascherano, Roberto Baggio, Samuel Etoo, David Trezeguet, Robert Pires, Javier Zanetti, Carlos Valderrama and Andriy Shevchenko.