Pope: May the Olympics promote welcome, solidarity, and peace

By Vatican News

Sport that promotes fraternity and peace.

That’s the vision at the centre of the telegram Pope Leo sent a telegram on Thursday evening, signed by the Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin, to the Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini.

Friendship and fraternity

The Pope said he spiritually joins all those who will take part this evening, in the Church of San Babila, in a celebration presided over by the Archbishop, during which the Athletes’ Cross for the Milan–Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games—taking place from 6 to 22 February—will be officially welcomed to the city.

Pope Leo expressed his hope that “this important event might awaken feelings of friendship and fraternity, strengthening awareness of the value of sport at the service of the integral development of the human person.”

Building bridges between peoples and cultures

In his message, the Pope said he would be praying that “healthy competition” at the Olympics might “help build bridges between cultures and peoples, promoting welcome, solidarity, and peace".

Among the concelebrants at the Mass will be Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and Father Michele Gianola, Undersecretary of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) and interim Director of the National Office for the Pastoral Care of Leisure, Tourism, and Sport.