Pope Leo urges Olympic athletes to foster respect, team spirit, sacrifice

By Devin Watkins

Olympic athletes, volunteers, and sporting associations attended Mass in the northern Italian city of Como on Friday, as they prepared for the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.

The XXV Winter Olympic Games kick off next week and run from February 6 to 22 at sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of Como, which was read at Mass on Friday.

The Pope sent his “cordial and best-wishing greeting” to the people of the Vicariate of Bormio and everyone involved in preparing the Milano Cortina Olympics.

He expressed his appreciation for the ancient sporting event that gathers professional and amateur athletes from across the globe every four years to compete in numerous sports.

Pope Leo said he hopes the Games may be “a favorable occasion to foster the true values of sport: fair play, respect, team spirit, and sacrifice, as well as social inclusion and the joy of encounter.”

He invited the parish communities of northern Italy to offer “generous Christian witness, so that they may be a luminous sign of the presence of Christ, who calls everyone to fraternity.”

Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his telegram assuring all involved in the 2026 Milano Cortina Games of his prayers and imparting his Apostolic Blessing, “a pledge of abundant heavenly favors.”