Gerry Cardinale was received by Pope Leo XIV in the past few days and he expressed a desire to co-operate with the Vatican.
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Sportico (via MilanNews) reports how the RedBird and Milan owner participated in the ‘Dialogues’ organised at the Vatican, in collaboration with the Laudato Si’ Center for Advanced Training, Handshake Strategies, the University of Notre Dame, and Deloitte Switzerland.
The exclusive meeting was attended by approximately 80 guests, including sports executives, former professional athletes, Olympians, and representatives of the institutional world. The discussions with Pope Leo addressed a variety of topics, all considered important and central to the Church.
This includes AI, the relationship between technology and humanity, and above all sport. For the month of June, the Pope’s prayer intention is dedicated precisely to the values of sport, with the World Cup on.
“May those who play, train, or cheer discover in sport a universal language that brings cultures together, unites peoples, and sows respect, solidarity, and personal growth,” he told the delegation.
Gerry Cardinale had the opportunity to weigh in on the debate surrounding the power and influence of sport. He emphasised the Vatican’s openness to potential partnerships with the private sector.
“Sport, by definition, is a form of public-private partnership, which carries with it an implicit civic duty and responsibility to the communities in which it takes place,” he said.
“The Pope is a well-known sports fan and recognises the importance of values and cultural identity for the sports ecosystem. I am intrigued by a potential collaboration with the Vatican for RedBird’s sports teams and projects.”
Speaking of football, Cardinale made some big calls in the past 48 hours as he has appointed the new Milan management, which includes internal promotions rather than external hires.