Pope Francis: “Sport is the hymn to life”

From Kielce Gussie

In a message on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Italian newspaper: Corriere dello Sport StadiumOn October 20, Pope Francis praised the news agency’s work, saying: “You have run a beautiful race in these hundred years.”

Sport as a safe space

The pope reflected on his own memories of playing soccer as a child in Argentina. He described the sport as an experience of “feeling of brotherhood” because friends played “knowing only opponents on the field, never enemies.”

Sports offer life lessons, he said, as players learn from the highlights of winning, the effort it takes to win and the loss of defeat.

Pope Francis used the example of a Salesian priest in Argentina, Fr. Lorenzo Massa, who opened the doors of the parish oratory to boys to play football.

The pope also emphasized the need to continue to have safe places to exercise.

He then explained how important it is to have “adults who genuinely welcome children and young people, who listen to their dreams and want a better future by their side.”

The unifying power of sport

Sport binds people together, Pope Francis said, allowing them to “walk united and feel part of a single family and a family of nations,” even in the midst of conflict and violence.

As an example, he highlighted the successful and inspiring stories that emerged from the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The pope also noted the newspaper’s role in reporting athletes’ victories and defeats as “a way of thinking and living sport as a hymn to life.”

Pope Francis’ message warned against intolerance and urged everyone to use sport as a tool for cooperation, regardless of race, religion or class.

Finally, he called on the newspaper to promote authenticity and acceptance and to “reject any logic of exclusion and violence.”