VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his hope that the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games will provide an opportunity for countries at war to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the Games.
“According to ancient tradition, let the Olympic Games be an opportunity to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere will for peace,” Francis said during his Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope stressed that sport also has “great social power, capable of peacefully uniting people of different cultures.”
The opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games will be held in Paris on July 26 with the participation of 205 delegations of athletes, who will parade in more than 80 boats along the Seine.
“I hope that this event can be a sign of the inclusive world that we want to build and that athletes, with their sporting testimony, are messengers of peace and valuable models for young people,” Francisco added.
The Pope, as always, asked the faithful to pray for peace, remembering the ongoing conflicts around the world.
“Let us not forget the martyrs of Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and many other countries at war. Let us not forget, war is a defeat,” he concluded.
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