Combined Services Chaplaincy cricket team host Vatican City in Aldershot

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, with approximately 882 people, but did you know they have a cricket team that has a friendly rivalry with the Combined Services Chaplaincy team?

The first-ever overseas cricket fixture the Vatican played was against a team of British Forces Chaplains almost a decade ago.

In 2014, it was the visitors who won, but in the latest meeting between the sides, the Combined Services enjoyed an eight-wicket victory.

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Strong performances from Billy Richardson, Storm Green and Matt Coles helped the service hosts to the win.

How Pope Francis had a hand in starting the team

"It was Pope Francis himself who started us off."

The late Pope Francis became head of the Catholic Church in March 2013, and he established himself as one of the team's biggest supporters.

Father Eamonn O'Higgins is the team's manager and said: "The day before we travelled in 2014, [Pope Francis] met us in his residence, which was the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

"He told us to go ahead and build bridges. To be out there meeting people and trying to give witness.

"He's met us many times over the years. He's signed bats for us and taken photographs with us."

Since his death in April, Pope Leo XIV has been elected, and Father O'Higgins is hopeful of the same support.

He said: "We haven't had the opportunity to meet him personally yet, but a couple of our players have. Hopefully, in the near future, we will tell him.

"Pope Leo has a great interest in baseball, but that's an open door, I think, to cricket!"