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A game of two popes: Vatican plays down talk of World Cup rivalry

The rivals: Pope Francis (left) embraces Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

With Argentina meeting Germany in the World Cup final, the Vatican on Friday brushed aside talk of soccer rivalry between Argentine Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict, a German.

In response to the intense media speculation about whether they would watch the game together, which it called "amusing", the Vatican called on soccer fans to observe a "pause for peace" before Sunday's final to remember victims of war and poverty.

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