Bulgarian, Romanian, Macedonian, Italian and Spanish youth of various religions and cultures have taken to the field to show that football can unite. The aim of the event “United by football”, held for the fifth time in the Bulgarian city of Rakovski last week, is to offer a chance for kids to get to know each other, exchange ideas, and grasp that people from different faiths and backgrounds can understand each other and do things together. It’s an event supported by Catholic priests in the country who see in it a further chance for dialogue and friendship between young people and also between adults. “Muslim youth were also present among the various faiths – said Father Rumen Stanev, parish priest of the church of St. Michael Archangel in Rakovski in conversation with SIR – and they too were present at our masses. Kids get along together, they easily become friends and thus also set an example to adults”, says Father Stanev with conviction. In this way, he says, football – which is only a sport – “succeeds in bringing people together and helping them to live in peace and concord”.
