Pope Francis praised the unifying strength of sport on Sunday, calling for a worldwide truce during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square following his weekly Angelus prayer, the Pope highlighted the role of sports in bringing together people from diverse cultures.
“Sport has a great social strength, capable of peacefully uniting people of different cultures,” Pope Francis said, expressing hope that the upcoming Games in Paris, which begin with the opening ceremony on Friday, would serve as a beacon of inclusivity and peace.
“I hope that this event can be a sign of the inclusive world that we want to build and that the athletes, with their sporting testimony, be messengers of peace and effective models for young people in particular,” the 87-year-old pontiff added.
Emphasizing the historical tradition of the Olympics as a time for establishing a truce in conflicts, Pope Francis called on nations to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace during the Games.
The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, with the Paralympic Games following from August 28 to September 8
