Athletica Vaticana: Olympic Games are antidote to “war games”

The members of Vatican Athleticsthe sports organization associated with Vatican City, pointed out that the Paris Olympic Games can be an “antidote” to “war games.”

On the eve of the start of the Olympic Games, which begin this July 26, Vatican athletes have written a letter in which they suggest a “more fraternal” humanity through sports dialogue, “understandable by all.”

For Vatican Athleticsthe Games can be an opportunity “for hope, in the small and big issues of each person and of humanity.”

They also urge “that no one be left alone” and to adapt “one’s own rhythm to that of the last”, at the same time that they highlight the participation of the Refugee Team and the truce desired by Pope Francis are “proposals for peace that the entire great sports family poses in a dark time for humanity.”

Pope Francis renews his call for an Olympic truce

Likewise, Pope Francis has reiterated his request to establish a truce during the Olympic Games, which begin this Friday, July 26 in Paris.

“At this time when peace in the world is seriously threatened, I sincerely hope that everyone respects the Olympic Truce, in the hope that conflicts will be resolved and concord will be restored,” the Holy Father wrote in his X profile on the eve of the Games.

“May God enlighten the consciences of the rulers,” he stressed on the social network on the afternoon of July 25.

Pope Francis has already expressed his desire for the Olympics to be an occasion to achieve peace at the end of the Angelus prayer last Sunday.

“This week the Paris Olympic Games will begin, which will be followed by the Paralympic Games. “Sport has a great social force, capable of peacefully uniting people from diverse cultures,” said the Holy Father.

From the window of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Pontiff particularly hoped that “the Olympics would be an occasion to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere will for peace.”

Furthermore, in a message addressed to the Archbishop of Paris (France), Bishop Laurent Ulrich, on July 19, Pope Francis expressed his desire that these Olympics promote world peace, “severely threatened”, following the tradition of the ancient world of establishing a truce during the competitions.