Pope hails unifying power of sport ahead of Olympics
(FILES) Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square during the Angelus prayer in the Vatican on 23 June 2024.
Tiziana FABI / AFP
Daily Tribune(FILES) Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square during the Angelus prayer in the Vatican on 23 June 2024.
Tiziana FABI / AFP
Pope Francis hailed the unifying power of sport on Sunday ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and repeated his call for a worldwide truce during the event.
"Sport has a great social strength, capable of peacefully uniting people of different cultures," he told pilgrims in St. Peter's Square after his weekly Angelus prayer, ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday in Paris.
"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 said.
"According to the ancient tradition, the Olympics are an occasion to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere desire for peace."
The Olympic Games run from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September.