Pope, Swiss Guard share joke over WC match

Pope Francis reportedly joked about the Argentina and Switzerland World Cup match with the Swiss Guard stationed at the Vatican.

"It's going to be war," the pontiff told a guard at Santa Marta, the guesthouse that serves at his residence, according to French news agency I.media.

I.media added the Swiss Guard invited the Pope to watch the game with them, but were told that "unfortunately" he could not spare the time.

The Vatican did not comment directly on the report, but one of its departments, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, published a topical cartoon on its Twitter feed.

It showed two Swiss Guards laughing, drinking beer while following the match on TV, with the Pope in the background, looking disgruntled and wearing an Argentina scarf.

The Argentinian Pope is a known football fan and a card-carrying member of Buenos Aires team San Lorenzo de Almagro.