Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: The Vatican Cricket Team is gearing up for its 10th “Light of Faith” tour in England, continuing its annual tradition of spreading the message of friendship, unity, and gospel hope through the sport of cricket.
On June 29, the team will play against England (Seniors) at Wormsley Estate. On July 1, they will play against St. Mary’s University XI at Arundel Castle, on July 3 against The King’s XI at Windsor Castle and July 4, they will go on a pilgrimage to Westminster Abbey.
Interestingly, in recent years, the Vatican (St. Peter’s) Cricket Team has become a fully Malayali team, with five Malayalis from Kerala being the first to join the international team. The team consists of Sinoj Nilankavil, Kiran Leen, Davidson Justus, Vipin Thomas, Boby Ponpanal, Paulson Anthony, Jose Ettolil Mathew, Shine Manjaly, Kapila Manjula, Sheshan K, and Francis Samuvel Akkarapattiakal, among others. Australian Dane Kirby is the coach.
The team has continued its winning streak, recently securing a victory over the Cappanelle Cricket Club in Italy.
This year’s tour promises to be special, featuring four exhilarating T20 cricket matches, including a highly anticipated game against the formidable Kings XI. The Vatican team, consisting of priests, deacons, and seminarians, has been training diligently and is eager to showcase their skills on the field while embracing the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship.
Beyond the cricket pitch, the Vatican team received invitations to visit historic sites such as Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey, offering an opportunity for meaningful cultural and spiritual exchanges.
The “Light of Faith” tour has always been more than just a series of cricket matches. It is a celebration of mutual respect, shared values, and the joy of the gospel. Over the past nine editions, the Vatican team has built lasting friendships and left a trail of goodwill in every country visited, and they are confident that this year’s tour in England will continue this cherished tradition.
Years ago, the idea for the team was initially proposed by the former Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy, and was supported by the Pontifical Council for Culture and Sport of the Vatican. The British Ambassador to the Holy See has also been involved since the start, recognizing the medieval English origins of the sport.
In 2013, the “St Peter’s Cricket Club” was announced, tasked with recruiting players from among the “300 seminarians and priests housed at Catholic colleges and seminaries around Rome”. The most talented players were then invited to join the Vatican Cricket Team, or “the Vatican XI”.
The Vatican Cricket Team was officially established in June 2014 with an initial squad consisting primarily of priests, deacons and seminarians recruited from India, with some players also selected from England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The team is sponsored by the dicastery for Culture and Education and supported by members of the Papal Orders of Knighthood.
The club engages in intercultural and ecumenical occasions and charitable initiatives, using cricket as a vector to promote the integration of cherished cultural values.
Intended to strengthen ties with cricket-playing nations and promote inter-faith dialogue, the players consists primarily of priests, deacons, and seminarians, with recruits mainly from India, England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
Prior to the official establishment of the team, an ad hoc Vatican XI played its first international match against the Netherlands-based Fellowship of Oddly Odd Countries Cricket Club in 2008. The team’s first official match was in May 2008, a friendly game against Roma Capannelle Cricket Club, which the Italian club won.