"Brother, please pass the ball"

AFP Blog, Par Fabrice Coffrini, 4 June 2014

AFP Geneva photographer Fabrice Coffrini knew about the ultra-conservative take on Catholic faith that put the Society of Saint Pius X, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, at loggerheads with the Vatican. But when he went to see the brotherhoods he discovered that they also play a devilishly good game of football.

Seminarians of the International Seminary of Saint Pius X vie wearing their
 cassocks for the ball during a football game on May 25, 2014 in Riddes,
Western Switzerland (AFP / Fabrice Coffrini)

RIDDES, Switzerland, June 4, 2014 - Every Sunday the Society of Saint Pius X’s priests and priests-to-be based in Econe, Switzerland, take time out to relax after a heavy week of study and prayer. Some go jogging and some practice basketball, but quite a few play football with, on occasion, divine inspiration.

Even when sweating it, the brothers must be dressed in cassocks. For traditionalists, the garment must be worn in any social situation, visible proof that the brothers are “in the world, but not of the world”. The doctrine seems not to target footwear, so studded football shoes are OK.

(AFP / Fabrice Coffrini)

I’ve wanted to take these pictures for years, and now that the World Cup approaches, the moment seems ideal. Getting permission from the Society was easy, and so here I am, in the Canton of Valais, for the Sunday match held at Riddes, a village down the road from Econe.

The football pitch is just below a motorway bridge. Drivers beep their horns as they notice the rare sight of dressed-up priests fighting over a ball. Apart from amused motorists there are no fans watching. There’s no referee either. But you don’t need secular arbitration when God is surely keeping score.

(AFP / Fabrice Coffrini)

The match is very physical, like any ordinary soccer game. The players tackle and shove each other as if they’d never heard of “Love Thy Neighbour”. But there is, apart from the attire of course, a major difference: The language used by the holy men. No cursing, no blasphemous swear words, and not the slightest protest over controversial offside situations or fouls. It’s all impeccably polite. “Brother, please pass the ball!” is how they address each other.

During half-time I want to line up the priestly squads and get them to punch holes in the air with enthusiasm, like any ordinary football team. But, heavens no, they turn me down flat.  When you’re wearing the cloak of God, there’s only so far you will go to tempt fate.

(AFP / Fabrice Coffrini)

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