The Vatican has launched its own cricket club as part of efforts to encourage interfaith dialogue.
The St Peter's Cricket Club is the brainchild of Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy.
He described it as an example of "sporting diplomacy" which would present the opportunity to play Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
The next stage is to select an official cricket team.
Mr McCarthy estimates that there are between 250 and 350 potential players from around the world studying in seminaries and religious universities in Rome - many of them from cricket loving countries, the BBC reports.
The board will stage a limited-overs tournament which will give students and priests a chance to compete for a place on the team, to be known as the Vatican XI.
The team will sport the official colours of the vatican city-state - yellow and white. Their jackets will have the seal of the papacy - two crossed keys.
The St Peter's Cricket Club has already laid down its first challenge to the Church of England and asked for a match at Lord's in September next year.