“Sports make it possible to build a culture of encounter among everyone for a world of peace,” says the Holy Father. “I dream of sports as the practice of human dignity, turned into a vehicle of fraternity. Do we exercise together this prayer intention?”
Today, launched through The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the pope’s August prayer is revealed in “Sports, a culture of encounter,” the eighth installment of The Pope Video, the video series created to disseminate the monthly intentions of Pope Francis for the challenges of humanity.
On the eve of the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the participation of 10,500 athletes from 206 International Committees is expected, the pope — coming fresh off of a successful 2016 World Youth Day that involved over a million young participants — invited all to join their voice to spread this message of brotherhood through sports. “that sports can contribute to the peaceful coexistence of all peoples of the world.”
Father Frédéric Fornos, SJ, recently appointed by Pope Francis as International Director of The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and its youth branch, the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM), said that “the great challenges facing the world today, against violence and barbarism that arises more than ever, it is necessary that sports become a fraternal encounter among peoples. There are so many fears! Sports can strongly contribute to break down the walls that separate us. I hope the global Olympic meeting contributes to creating a culture of encounter in the service of peace.”
Conceived and produced by La Machi Communication for Good Causes, The Pope Video has the support of the Society of Jesus, IndigoMusic, GettyImagesLatam, with the collaboration of the Vatican Television Center. Anyone wishing to donate to this monthly project can do so at this link.
And today we celebrate...