Pope says sport helps cultivate
values of life
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| Pope Francis receives athletes from the Italian Gymnastic Federation (vatican Media) |
Pope Francis meets representatives of the Italian Gymnastics
Federation in Audience in the Vatican on their 150th Anniversary.
By Vatican News
In his address to the group, Pope Francis noted how this
Federation was founded in order to “promote the culture of sport through
physical education”.
Sport promotes friendship
“The presence of sports associations in society is not only
functional in terms of organizing sports activity”, he continued. “They are
also called upon to foster a mentality which, through sport, promotes the
integral development of the human person and social friendship”. This, said the
Pope, “is a question of understanding and living the practice of sport not only
as a source of physical well-being, but as an ideal of a courageous, positive
and optimistic life”.
Sport cultivates values
Pope Francis went to say how “sport becomes a formative
experience that helps new generations to cultivate the values of life: love for
loyalty and justice, the taste for beauty and goodness, the search for freedom
and solidarity”.
The Pope also warned that “the sports system sometimes
appears to be conditioned by a logic of profit, by an exasperated competitive
spirit and, unfortunately, also by violent attitudes”. Faced with these
negative aspects, he said, “leaders and athletes animated by Christian faith can
bear witness to the humanizing power of the Gospel even in sports environments,
and thus contribute to building a more fraternal society”.
Sport builds confidence
Pope Francis concluded with the hope that sports enthusiasts
may “always live sport with loyalty and a healthy competitive spirit. This will
help you to face the challenges of life with courage and honesty”, he said,
“with joy and serene confidence in the future”.
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