Pope Leo XIV Visits Taranto for Peace and Fraternity
Pope Leo XIV expressed his hopes that the Mediterranean Games, set to take place in Taranto, Italy, would serve as a beacon of peace and fraternity among nations. As Athletica Vaticana prepares to participate in the eve…
Pope Leo XIV expressed his hopes that the Mediterranean Games, set to take place in Taranto, Italy, would serve as a beacon of peace and fraternity among nations. As Athletica Vaticana prepares to participate in the event, the Pope emphasized the power of sport to unite communities.
Four athletes from Athletica Vaticana are set to compete in the 20th Mediterranean Games, which will occur from August 21 to September 3. Approximately 4,000 athletes from 26 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe will participate in 33 different sports.
The athletes representing the Holy See’s sports association include Fabrizio Peloni and Tiziano Lucarelli in men’s padel doubles, Daniele Fontana in épée fencing, and Emiliano Morbidelli in cycling. Ahead of the event, Pope Leo XIV conveyed his hope that the Games could provide a visible sign of peace and encounter.
During his Angelus address, he said, “I hope that this sporting event may be a prophecy of peace and fraternity among the peoples of this region and of the whole world.” The Pope has consistently asserted that the essence of sport is found in the interactions and shared experiences between competitors, who recognize each other as part of the same human family.
On the first day of the Mediterranean Games, Archbishop Ciro Miniero of Taranto is set to preside over Mass at the city’s cathedral, joined by Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, as they welcome the Cross of the Athletes. According to a press release, the cross will serve as a spiritual reference throughout the Games, having accompanied athletes at international sporting events since the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archbishop Miniero emphasized that sports present a valuable opportunity for both professionals and amateurs, including children, to transcend social differences and promote fraternity. “In a world suffering due to war and the climate emergency, we have the chance to show that peace is possible and that the athletes who hail from ‘opposing factions’ are instead women and men animated by a genuine spirit of fraternity, beyond their place of birth or creed,” he stated.
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, noted that the presence of Athletica Vaticana signifies an important gesture of fraternity. He described the Cross of the Athletes as “a wordless message” affirming that every life, even through sweat and suffering, deserves love and respect.
