Pope Francis expresses wish that upcoming Olympic Games provide opportunity to establish truce in ongoing wars
Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his hope that the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games provide the opportunity for warring nations to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the Games.
“According to ancient tradition, may the Olympics be an opportunity to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere will for peace,” he said.
He recalled that this week the Paris Olympic Games will begin, followed by the Paralympic Games, and noted that “Sport also has a great social power, capable of peacefully uniting people from different cultures.”
“I hope that this event can be a sign of the inclusive world we want to build and that the athletes, with their sporting testimony, may be messengers of peace and valuable models for the young,” he said.