Argentina and Germany both have a prayer of winning the World Cup on Sunday — because they happen to be the homelands of the two living popes, Francis and Benedict XVI.
“It’s Pope versus Pope!” tweeted @Facc5, as the Twitter hashtag #HolyWar started blowing up Thursday.
Soccer fan Lewis Maynard added: “The two teams in the World Cup final are the two homelands of the two living Popes. Argentina and Germany. How perfect is that?”
Pope Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires and enjoys soccer, has already promised he won’t try to sway the odds by appealing to his buddy, God, for an Argentine victory.
“Both [popes] would want the better team to win, without taking sides,” a Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said.
Francis already said last month that he would not take sides between Argentina and neighboring rival Brazil, the host nation.
“The Brazilians have asked that I remain neutral,” he said. “I comply with my words because Brazil and Argentina are always antagonists.”
Perhaps Benedict was praying for Germany, as they dispatched Brazil 7-1 Tuesday, in one of the worst blowouts in Cup history.
When the two teams face off on Sunday, it will mark the third time in history the Argentinians and Germans have battled in a World Cup final.
Argentina beat West Germany in 1986 and West Germany beat Argentina in 1990. This time, Germany is the favorite.
The game airs at 3 p.m. in New York City — and at 9 p.m. in Vatican City, which is, unfortunately, past the 77-year-old Francis’ bedtime.
“The game is late for Pope Francis,” said Lombardi, who added there is a small chance the pontiff will stay up for the big game.
“We’ll see in the coming days,” Lombardi said.
As for Benedict, 87, a German native who retired last year and who is now pope emeritus, Lombardi said there was little chance he will watch because Benedict is “not a big sports fan.”