By Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Editor
Follow @BurkeCNN(CNN)– Will the World Cup final become a "Holy War"?
At the very least, Sunday's match could put millions of Catholics - not to mention Vatican employees - in a bit of a bind.
Will they root for Argentina, the homeland of Pope Francis, who is known to be an ardent soccer aficionado? Or will they back Germany, the native country of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, also a football fan?
And what about the Big Referee Upstairs? Whose prayers will he heed when the game is on the line?
Germany reached the final match on Tuesday by blowing out Brazil, the host country. Argentina beat the Netherlands on Wednesday afternoon.
Of course, both Popes (not to mention God) have more important things on their minds. But the pontiffs have also said that sports can be more than fun and games.
"The sport of football can be a vehicle of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, especially for the younger generation," Benedict told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper back in 2008.
His successor, Francis has echoed those remarks, and even promised not to pray for Argentina.
But a Catholic who met Pope Francis this week to discuss more serious matters said that the pontiff seemed to be secretly pulling for his home team.
"He absolutely wants for Argentina to win," Peter Saunders, a victim of sexual abuse from England who met Francis on Monday, told the Boston Globe. "He didn’t say it out loud, but you could see it in his eyes, he’s a closet fan."
And earlier this month, before Argentina played Switzerland, Francis jokingly told his Swiss Guards, "It's going to be war!"
It will be interesting to see what the Vatican says about the Argentina-Germany matchup. The men are known to be close, with Francis saying he and Benedict "are brothers."
Maybe the "brothers" will put a little wager on the high-stakes soccer match, or maybe this just means that God has a really good sense of humor.
On Thursday, Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi dashed hopes for a World Cup papal watch party, but left often the possibility that something could be afoot.
"We'll see in the coming days," Lombardi told reporters.
The scene in the Vatican on Sunday: Soccer, not theology, divides the two Popes! pic.twitter.com/hzLsMwvJCc
— The Irish Catholic (@IrishCathNews) July 10, 2014
Unconfirmed reports in Italian media: large quantities of Maté & Fanta delivered to Vatican for private event Sunday pic.twitter.com/wPyob19TIk
— Thomas Rosica (@FatherRosica) July 10, 2014
Well it's official... This is SOOO happening in #Rome on Sunday! #B16 #PopeFrancis #WorldCup2014 #PopeVsPope pic.twitter.com/BrFRq0zGVJ
May the best Prayer win! #Fifa World Cup 2014 #Germany #Argentina #ARGvsALE #PopeVsPope #univisiondeportes#pray#goal pic.twitter.com/gzuVHhzVDg
It's going to be a tense #WorldCup final in Vatican City. #PopeVsPope #PopeCup pic.twitter.com/eK7Egc5HAM
— Benedict Skipper (@benedictskipper) July 10, 2014
— Machiz (@aztecamachiz) July 10, 2014
It's going to be a tense #WorldCup final in Vatican City. #PopeVsPope #PopeCup pic.twitter.com/eK7Egc5HAM
Finirà chiaramente 3 a 2. #ArgentinaGermania #mundialao #manosDeDio #PapaFrancisco #WorldCup2014 #VamosArgentina pic.twitter.com/T5LR4LDtYQ
— Fabio M. Ragona (@FabioMRagona) July 9, 2014
— Benedict Skipper (@benedictskipper) July 10, 2014
Finirà chiaramente 3 a 2. #ArgentinaGermania #mundialao #manosDeDio #PapaFrancisco #WorldCup2014 #VamosArgentina pic.twitter.com/T5LR4LDtYQ
— Fabio M. Ragona (@FabioMRagona) July 9, 2014
— The Jesuit Post (@TheJesuitPost) July 9, 2014
If World Cup final is Germany and Argentina, then it's Pope against Pope. Awaiting Benedict-Francis shootout.
— Mo Rocca (@MoRocca) July 9, 2014
Dreaming of a final World cup match between Germany and Argentina watched by Pope Francis + Pope Benedict Emeritus together #CatholicChurch — Dominican Sisters (@DomSrStJoseph) July 8, 2014
Not much of a World Cup fan but I want to see a Holy War (Pope Benedict XVI vs Pope Francis)
— Miguel Lizada (@mlizada) July 9, 2014
Sunday's World Cup Final: Pope Benedict vs. Pope Francis! via @lifejusticemin pic.twitter.com/E8kuHWSu1A
— Millennial (@MillennialJourn) July 9, 2014