Vatican backs Ancona's morality mission

The Vatican is backing a minor league team's bid to turn themselves into a beacon of morality for the frequently troubled world of Italian soccer.

AC Ancona are the pioneers of a code of ethics drafted by Italy's main Catholic sports body, the Centro Sportivo Italiano (CSI), which has the stated aim of making the third-tier club an "innovative, ethical model of practising football".

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone praised the project in a statement read at its presentation yesterday, saying it was designed to "bring out the human and spiritual values in sport".

Pope Benedict XVI also encouraged the team after receiving a shirt with his name and the number 16 on from them at yesterday's general audience in St Peter's Square.

"Soccer should increasingly become a tool for the teaching of life's ethical and spiritual values," the Pope said.

By signing the code, the club are committed to promoting fair play and a family-friendly atmosphere at their games and to being transparent in all their financial dealings.

They also promise to make sure their professionals do community work and guarantee that their youth team players are not exploited and get a good all-round education.