Pope Leo: Sport is drugs for physique and spirit

By Devin Watkins

Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with members of the Italian Swimming Federation and contributors within the International Swimming Championships.

The 62nd Sette Colli Trophy takes place on the historic Foro Italico Swimming Stadium in Rome on June 26-28, and serves as a closing qualifying occasion forward of the upcoming European Championships and Mediterranean Games.

In his handle, the Pope mentioned sport can function drugs for the physique and the spirit, whether it is approached accurately.

“It integrates the various dimensions of the person and directs them toward very important values, such as commitment, solidarity, and honesty,” he mentioned.

In aggressive sporting actions, added the Pope, an athlete reveals the standard of their motiviations as they train willpower and drive to carry out.

Besides bodily well being, sport additionally gives a possibility for religious nourishment, particularly swimming, famous Pope Leo.

“Swimming is practiced while immersed in an element, water, which surrounds the person,” he mentioned. “This symbolically recalls an aspect that has shaped us from our mother’s womb: to live means learning to move in harmony with others and with the environment around us.”

For Christians, he famous, water symbolizes Baptism and our new life in Christ.

Pope Leo recalled that contributors within the Sette Colli Trophy competitors come from world wide, impressed by the identical ardour and values that transcend language or tradition.

“This aspect, which is typical of international sporting events, offers a sign of hope, a sign of the world we desire,” he mentioned. “It contributes to peaceful encounter among peoples and to fraternity.”

Pope Leo XIV inspired skilled swimmers to proceed practising and spreading the values of sport, entrusting them to the intercession of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.

“The age of competition passes, but those values remain!” he mentioned.