Pope Leo XIV Meets Italian Swimming Federation Members
Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with members of the Italian Swimming Federation and participants in the International Swimming Championships. This meeting took place as the 62nd Sette Colli Trophy was held at the historic…
Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with members of the Italian Swimming Federation and participants in the International Swimming Championships. This meeting took place as the 62nd Sette Colli Trophy was held at the historic Foro Italico Swimming Stadium in Rome from June 26 to 28, serving as a final qualifying event for the upcoming European Championships and Mediterranean Games.
In his address, the Pope emphasized the significant role of sport in promoting both physical and spiritual well-being when approached correctly. He stated, “Sport can serve as medicine for the body and the spirit,” highlighting that it integrates various aspects of an individual and channels them towards important values such as commitment, solidarity, and honesty.
Pope Leo further explained that competitive sports reveal an athlete's underlying motivations as they exhibit willpower and dedication in their performances. He noted the unique spiritual benefits of swimming, saying, “Swimming is practiced while immersed in an element, water, which surrounds the person.” He drew on this metaphor to connect swimming to how humans learn to navigate and coexist harmoniously with their surroundings.
For Christians, water also represents Baptism and the new life in Christ. The Pope acknowledged the Sette Colli Trophy participants' diverse backgrounds, suggesting that their shared passion and values transcend language and culture. He stated, “This aspect, which is typical of international sporting events, offers a sign of hope, a sign of the world we desire,” reinforcing the idea that such events can foster peaceful encounters and fraternity among peoples.
Encouraging the swimmers, Pope Leo XIV urged them to continue upholding and promoting the values associated with sport, entrusting their efforts to the intercession of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. He concluded with a reminder that while the competition may be temporary, the values rooted in sportsmanship endure.
