Paris Olympics “an opportunity for peace,” Pope says

In the preface to a book of testimonies of Olympic, Paralympic, and refugee athletes, Francis defends dignity of all participants and praises their example.

Pope Francis supports the proposal of the United Nations for a worldwide truce on the occasion of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the preface to a book published by Vatican Publishing (LEV) on June 13, he also warns against “the excessive pursuit of money and success ‘at all costs’” in this high-level competition.

The book is Games of Peace. The Soul of the Olympics and the Paralympics (Giochi di pace. L’anima delle Olimpiadi e delle Paralimpiadi), which collects the testimonies of 85 Olympic, Paralympic, and refugee athletes, at the initiative of the small state’s sports association, Athletica Vaticana.

“In the particularly dark historical moment we are living, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris are an opportunity for peace,” he writes in the preface.

In this text, the head of the Catholic Church supports the Olympic truce voted by the United Nations; the organization calls for it to begin seven days before the start of the Olympic Games (July 26) and conclude seven days after the close of the Paralympic Games (September 8). Over 10,000 athletes from 200 nations are expected to take part.

The Pope sees these sports competitions as “an original diplomatic channel to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.” Referring to the Olympic flag bearing the five interlaced rings, and the addition of the word Communiter — together — to the motto, he emphasizes that “the essence of sports is to unite and not divide.”

Do not overwhelm athletes “in the name of profit”

Urging us to curb “the excessive pursuit of money and success ‘at all costs’” and to avoid “overwhelming athletes in the name of profit,” the Argentine pontiff calls for “the same dignity” for all athletes, “regardless of the number of medals and competitive rankings.”

He expresses his admiration for Paralympic athletes and hopes that their sporting prowess will be an opportunity to “change the perception of disability in everyday life.” The pontiff also praises the example of refugee athletes “who tell stories of redemption, hope, (and) inclusion.”

In particular, Francis cites Syrian Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini, who saved 18 people by pushing a dinghy to the Greek island of Lesbos — which the Pope visited in 2016 and 2021 — and Afghan swimmer Abbas Karimi, born without arms, who pursued his dream of becoming a Paralympic champion.

“These are not ‘just’ sportsmen and women. They are men and women of peace, protagonists of tenacious hope and the ability to rise again,” says the Pope.

He also points out that pontiffs have always supported the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

“This has been the case since my predecessor, St. Pius X, received Pierre de Coubertin [founder of the modern Olympics] and initiated international sporting events at the Vatican between 1905 and 1913, with the participation of young people with disabilities, amputees, and blind persons.”