Argentine footballer Lionel Messi shared a touching message on Instagram on Monday after the death of Pope Francis. The captain of the Argentina national team remembered his fellow countryman warmly and acknowledged his impact on the world:

"A different kind of Pope—close, Argentine… Rest in peace, Pope Francis. Thank you for making the world a better place. We’ll miss you." The message from the Argentine star was accompanied by a photo taken back in 2013, when the Argentina national team visited the Pope shortly after he was elected head of the Catholic Church.

A meeting that left a mark on Messi

That visit took place before a friendly between Argentina and Italy in honor of the new pontiff. During the reception, Messi received a small olive tree from the Pope—a symbol of peace and hope—as a gift for the national team.

The moment left a lasting impression on Messi, who years later, in 2021, returned the gesture by sending a signed Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) jersey, the club he played for at the time. Pope Francis responded with kind and heartfelt words: "Thank you for being close, thank you for the example you set, and thank you for not letting fame go to your head," he said in an interview with Télam news agency.

The Pope’s passing

Pope Francis passed away on Monday at 7:35 a.m. (05:35 GMT) at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, after battling respiratory issues for more than two months, which had kept him hospitalized in Rome for 38 days.