As the world prepares for the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in northern Italy, Pope Leo XIV has issued a renewed appeal for peace, urging nations to honor the Olympic Truce and rediscover sport as a force for human fraternity and hope.
In a letter titled Life in Abundance, released just hours before the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Games, the Holy Father reflected on the deeper meaning of sport and its responsibility to serve the common good. According to Vatican News, the Pope wrote on the occasion of both the XXV Winter Olympic Games, taking place from February 6–22, and the XIV Paralympic Games, scheduled for March 6–15.
Pope Leo emphasized that sport has long been recognized by the Church as more than competition or entertainment. Recalling the words and witness of his predecessors, he noted that major sporting events have repeatedly highlighted sport’s capacity to promote peace and unity among nations. He welcomed the continued proposal of the Olympic Truce by the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as a sign of hope in a fractured world.
“In a world thirsting for peace,” the Pope wrote, “we need tools that can put an ‘end to the abuse of power, displays of force and indifference to the rule of law,’” according to Vatican News. He warned that humanity is increasingly confronted with “a culture of death,” insisting that “aggression, violence and war are always a defeat for humanity.”
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Against that backdrop, Pope Leo encouraged all nations to honor the Olympic Truce during the upcoming Games, calling it “an instrument of hope” and “a symbol and promise of a reconciled world,” according to the Vatican News report.
The Holy Father also turned his attention inward, reminding the Church of her responsibility to be pastorally present in the world of sport. He highlighted Athletica Vaticana, the official athletics association of the Holy See established in 2018, as an example of how sport can be lived as a form of ecclesial service under the guidance of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. According to Vatican News, the Pope described this initiative as a witness to “how sport can also be experienced as an ecclesial service.”
Beyond elite competition, Pope Leo stressed the importance of grassroots sports, which often lack funding but are rich in human relationships. He called on the Church to accompany athletes at every level, offering discernment and hope while resisting the temptation to reduce sport to spectacle or profit.
Throughout the letter, the Pope cautioned against the exploitation of sport for political or financial gain. Instead, he urged that athletics remain faithful to its true purpose: the formation of the human person and the pursuit of the common good.
“In this way,” the Pope wrote, “sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others, and from the joy of walking together,” according to Vatican News.
As the eyes of the world turn to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Pope Leo XIV’s message challenges athletes, spectators, and nations alike to see sport not as an end in itself, but as a powerful means of fostering peace, dignity, and authentic human flourishing.
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