VATICAN CITY: Founder of the British Asian Rugby Association, Ikram Butt recently visited Rome and in a brief interaction, he discussed Rugby League with none other, but the Pope!
Butt, along with Leeds-based Imam Qari Asim MBE and a number of Italian Rugby League players and officials, spent a few minutes discussing the game as the White Ribbon campaign that promotes awareness on domestic violence against women. Describing his experience meeting with Pope Francis, Ikram said, “He is a very engaging personality and easy to see why he's made such a positive impact since becoming the Pontiff. He listened carefully to what we had to say and was well aware of Rugby League as a sport. It was an amazing opportunity to talk sport and other issues with one of the most iconic figureheads on the planet.”
Imam at Leeds' Makkah Mosque, Asim commented, “Popes are usually circumscribed by tradition and hemmed in by bureaucracy but Pope Francis seems to have broken the papal protocol. His interventions in global politics, as well as his displays of public humility, have made him popular amongst not only Catholics, or Christians, but also amongst people of all faiths as well as no faith. I was keen to share some of the remarkable work that faith communities have done in Britain to strengthen interfaith relations, which is very much in line with his views about faith communities working together like a family.”
“Garry Schofield and I took a BARA team out to Rome to face the Italian Rugby League 'renegades' last year and just lost thanks to a last gasp penalty. We're hoping to play host to the Italians later this year in Leeds and continue to build on the partnerships developed using rugby as a means to tackle violence against women and girls and interfaith dialogue,” added Ikram.
