German striker Klose meets Pope Benedict XVI

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY — Three days after helping lead Lazio to a 2-1 derby win over Roma, striker Miroslav Klose has been treated to a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.

The pope greeted Klose at his general audience Wednesday and the pair had a long chat.

Klose is German like the pope, although he was born in Poland.

In Sunday’s derby, Lazio took the lead in the seventh minute after Maarten Stekelenburg brought down Klose, resulting in the Roma goalkeeper being sent off and a penalty that Hernanes converted. Stefan Mauri scored Lazio’s other goal.

Klose previously played for Bayern Munich and the pope comes from Bavaria. Klose is Germany’s second all-time leading scorer with 63 goals, five behind record-holder Gerd Mueller.

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