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Pope Leo Encourages Special Olympics Athletes to Live Holy Lives
Developing
In Short: Pope Leo XIV met with Italian Special Olympics athletes, praising the values of sports and encouraging them to lead holy lives.
Pope Leo XIV met with Italian athletes from the Special Olympics who participated in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, expressing his admiration for the values of sports and encouraging them to live holy lives.
During the meeting, Pope Leo emphasized his own fondness for sports and its educational value, noting that it teaches noble and authentic values such as commitment, hard work, loyalty, trust, openness, team spirit, and courage.
The pope also highlighted the importance of sharing the fruits of one's perseverance with others, thanking the athletes, coaches, officials, assistants, and collaborators for their dedication and the positive message they embody.
Pope Leo XIV encouraged the athletes to follow the example of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young sportsman who, because of his love for Jesus, translated the values of sport into a life marked by generosity and holiness.
The Special Olympics, an international organization that promotes sports for people with intellectual disabilities, operates in more than 190 countries and involves around 5 million athletes worldwide.
In his remarks, Pope Leo entrusted the delegation to the intercession of Mary and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, concluding by imparting his apostolic blessing.
What this adds
The pope's meeting with the Special Olympics athletes underscores the Vatican's continued support for inclusive sports programs and the promotion of values through athletic competition.
What's confirmed
- 19, Pope Leo received the Italian athletes from the Special Olympics who took part in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin.
- The Special Olympics is an international organization that promotes sports for people with intellectual disabilities.
- “As you know,” Pope Leo said, “I too am very fond of sport, and I am convinced of its great educational value, because it teaches people noble and authentic values.” To take part in sports, the Holy Father recognized, means committing oneself seriously and working hard, and then sharing the fruits of one’s perseverance with loyalty, trust, openness, team spirit and courage.
- Pope Leo concluded by encouraging them to live holy lives and by imparting his apostolic blessing.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.
Sources
- catholicconnect.inlink