Vatican launches first cricket club in bid to forge ties with other faiths

The Vatican has launched its first cricket club aimed at forging ties with teams of other faiths.

The cricket club is the latest initiative of the Vatican's culture ministry to use sports to engage in dialogue with the contemporary world.

According to news.com.au, Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy, was the brainchild behind the initiative.

Mccarthy said he hopes the St. Peter's Cricket Club will field a team to play the Church of England at Lord's sometime next fall.

He said the aim is to boost interfaith dialogue, given cricket's immense popularity in largely non-Catholic India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He added that the initiative also is aimed at educating Italy, the Vatican and even Pope Francis that 'there is some sport other than football!'

Rome's Capannelle Cricket Club is letting the Vatican use its pitch, and McCarthy said anonymous private sponsors were prepared to fund equipment, organisational and other related costs, the report added.