【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2010 年 7 月 13 日奧地利維也納訊訊】 ─ 記者 Albert Christian Sellner 於奧地利一份日報「標準報」（Der Standard）發表文章，建議鮑思高成為足球主保，並提議教宗應推廣這樣的表彰。

Sellner 於七月三至四日出版的週末版中，指出很多足球員在比賽時，都會祈禱並仰望天庭，然而目前尚未有該職業正式的主保。雖然國際足協禁止使用宗教標誌及姿態，然而很多球員似乎對此不加注意，並公開表達他們的宗教信仰。例如馬勒當拿在世界盃比賽中，都可見到他帶玫瑰唸珠在身。

事實上，很多職業及社會群體，都有他們的主保，聖伊西多羅是互聯網主保；聖嘉勒亞西西是電視主保；聖若瑟古白定是太空航行主保；總領天使加俾額爾是電訊主保。雖然一些運動項目已有專屬主保，例如田徑的主保是聖巴斯弟盎，然而足球項目則尚未有主保。

很多國家隊都會向出自自己國家的聖人祈求，例如英國的聖喬治、法國的聖貞德、意大利的慈悲聖方濟亞西西，以及斯洛伐克的聖馬爾定。

誰可成為足球主保？ Sellner 及其他關注人士，均毫不猶疑地把答案指向鮑思高。原因何在？足球的特徵：青年、友誼、美妙的技能及慶典，均與鮑思高關係密切。

Sellner 在他的文章中，列出這位來自都靈聖人的簡短生平輪廓，講述他在街上漫步，尋找青少年及適合他們聚集的地方，向他們示範所有他自己個人的遊戲枝巧，以及有助他教育使命的藝術及創意。「在他安息主懷時，逾二十萬名青少年已成為他友誼的受益者。」

Sellner 說到題了。像若望保祿二世宣佈鮑思高為「青年的慈父和良師」，本篤十六世將有機會為足球界留下印記，就是宣佈鮑思高成為足球主保。

一名慈幼會士以他的開明看法令慈幼通訊社關注這篇在奧地利日報上的報導，他是 Bernahard Maier 神父——奧地利奧運及殘奧代表隊的神師。Sellner 建議人們確認鮑思高及其慈幼會士，使遊戲及競賽成為教育及人文發展的機會所作出的偉大貢獻，強調它們令人團結一起的價值，多於競爭。

我們希望看到有更進一步的進展…… 

Don Bosco patron of football? Why not!

(ANS –Austria - Vienna , 13 July 2010) – The journalist Albert Christian Sellner in the pages of the Austrian daily “Der Standard” has proposed Don Bosco as the patron of football and  suggested to the Pope that he should promote this recognition.

In the  weekend edition  of 3-4 July, Sellner notes that many footballers pray and look up to heaven as they are playing and yet there is no official patron for the profession. In spite of the fact that FIFA had forbidden the use of religious symbols and gestures most of the players don’t seem to take any notice and openly express their religious faith. Maradona, for example, during the World Cup has been seen with some rosary beads as the matches are played. 

In fact many professional and social settings have their holy protector; St Isidor of Seville is the patron of the Internet, St Clare of Assisi of the television, St Joseph of Copertino of space travel , the Archangel Gabriel of telecommunications. Although some sports  have patrons such as St Sebastian for athletics, football still lacks its holy protector.

National Teams could turn to saints from their own country such as England and St George, France and St Joan of Arc, Italy and the meek St Francis of Assisi, Slovakia and St Martin.

And who could be the patron of football? The reply of Sellner, and others involved is unequivocal: Don Bosco. The reason? The characteristics of football: youth,  friendship, artistic skill and celebration are all associated with Don Bosco.

In his article Sellner gives a short biographical sketch of the saint from Turin mentioning  how he roamed the streets of the city looking for boys and a suitable place to gather them together, demonstrating all his own personal skills in games, artistry and creativity which helped him in his mission of education. “At his death over 200 thousand youngsters had enjoyed the benefits of his friendship”.

Sellner gets to the point. As John Paul II declared Don Bosco “Father and Teacher of Youth,” “Benedict  XVI would have the chance of making a mark in the world of football by proclaiming Don Bosco patron of football.”

It was a Salesian who brought to the attention of the ANS Office the article in the Austrian daily with a liberal slant – Fr Bernahard Maier chaplain to the Austrian Olympic and Para-olympic squads. Sellner’s suggestion recognises the great contribution Don Bosco and his Salesians have made to games and sport as occasions for education and human development, emphasising their value in bringing people together over the competitive.

We hope to see further developments …