Pope Francis wishes for Olympic peace during the Summer Games in Paris
Pope Francis calls for an Olympic peace during Paris Summer Games. According to the head of the Catholic Church in a message, the Olympic Games are by nature carriers of peace and not war. In ancient times, a truce was wisely introduced during the Games. "In these troubled times, when world peace is seriously threatened, I deeply wish that everyone holds on to this principle," said the 87-year-old.
Sport, according to Francis' words, is a universal language that overcomes borders, languages, nationalities, and religions. "It has the ability to bring people together, to promote dialogue and mutual acceptance," so the Pontiff. The Olympic Games in the French capital could be an exceptional place of encounter even between enemy peoples in times of wars and conflicts on the planet.
The tradition goes back to the Games in ancient Greece: At that time, a truce was agreed upon, which began seven days before the start of the Games and ended seven days after their end. This way, all athletes could travel safely to and from the event.
This year, the Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11. The Paralympic Games will follow from August 28 to September 8.
Pope Francis urges everyone to uphold the peace-promoting nature of the Olympic Games during his time in Paris for the Summer Games. As the Pontiff stated, Francis believes that sport, specifically the Olympic Games, has the power to unite people across borders and religions, fostering dialogue and mutual acceptance. In line with the Pope's sentiments, the Olympic Games in Paris could provide an exceptional platform for reconciliation between adversarial peoples during times of global conflicts.
