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SUPPAN-POPE Nov-17-2005 (550 words) With photo. xxxi
Airline foils pitcher's plan to give pope a Cardinals jersey
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When St. Louis Cardinals' star pitcher Jeff Suppan flew to Rome to meet Pope Benedict XVI, he planned to present the pope with a team jersey "because the pope had been a cardinal," too.
But Suppan said Pope Benedict never received the white and red baseball shirt "because my luggage was lost" on the flight to Rome.
"I was wearing the same clothes for three days," Suppan told Catholic News Service.
Instead, when the current Cardinals' player met the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger at the end of the pontiff's weekly general audience Nov. 9, Suppan just kissed the pope's ring.
Suppan said he did not know what to say because "it was emotional for me. I was nervous in a different way. I've never been nervous before. I don't really know how to describe it. ... It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Suppan, who has played in the major leagues for the past nine years, was also in Rome to attend the Vatican's first conference on sports.
The Nov. 11-12 conference brought professional players, experts, sports fans and chaplains to talk about how the church could better promote authentic human values and the Gospel message in the world of athletics.
Suppan is one of a number of professional athletes who openly shares his Catholic faith.
"As I realized my talent in baseball, I really wanted to glorify God in it, so I tried to do everything I could in my power to study physically and mentally on what I felt I was being called to do," he said.
Ray McKenna, executive director of Catholic Athletes for Christ and another conference participant, said, "Jeff Suppan is one of a number of players in a variety of sports who are very much animated by their faith and on fire for Christ."
McKenna said "kids look up to athletes for better or for worse," which gives professional Catholic players a "unique opportunity to relate to children" and tell them about the importance of recognizing God in their lives.
First baseman Mike Sweeny of the Kansas City Royals is another high-profile athlete who "uses the platform he's been given" to share his Catholic faith with others, McKenna told CNS Nov. 15.
"He's very thankful to the Lord, as most of the athletes are, for the gifts they've received, and they feel an obligation, generally, to give back and to share" with others what role God plays in their lives, McKenna said.
Suppan said the obstacles and temptations in the world of professional sports "are the same as for everyone else."
One former Major League Baseball player at the conference said professional athletes are exposed to a lot more hurdles and pitfalls in life.
Darrell Miller, who played for the California Angels in the mid-1980s, said it is easier for pro athletes "to lose perspective. It's hard to know who your friends are and to get the truth out of someone, because everyone wants to be your friend."
Suppan's advice to young athletes is "to keep your eyes on Jesus, because there are so many things out there. I think that when we lose sight, if we're not putting Jesus first, I believe we lose our way a little bit."
END
Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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