Pope Leo XIV.: Sport as a key to peace and human unity

Pope Leo XIV.: Sport as a key to peace and human unity

Osnabrück, Deutschland - On June 15, 2025, Pope Leo XIV again confirmed his conviction that sport is a powerful means for peace and humanity. The 69-year-old Pontifex described sport not only as a physical challenge, but also as a way to teach values ​​such as respect and fairness. This was a central theme of his appearance during the prayer for the Angelus, in which he emphasized the social importance of sport. In doing so, he invited those present to oppose the challenges of violence and oppression and emphasized that the sport builds bridges between humans and overcomes loneliness, which brings hope.

in a world that is often shaped by competing thinking, sport also teaches how to deal with defeats. "Nobody is born as a champion or saint," said the Pope. He appealed that daily training of love and respect would be the real objectives. Pope Leo XIV has already demonstrated his sports enthusiasts and received well -known athletes such as tennis professional Jannik Sinner and Italian soccer champion SSC Naples. In addition, the Giro d’Italia papal blessing was granted for the decisive stage, which underlines the connection of the church with sport.

Sport as an instrument for social change

The connecting power of sport not only runs through the Pope's speeches, but is also an important instrument for social change worldwide. Development aid organizations and NGOs are increasingly using sports to promote education and to promote health information in disadvantaged regions. For example, the Children's Aid Plan in Tanzania has established a dormitory and a soccer team for girls. Sport has proven to be an effective means to create hope and distraction in crisis areas.

Starting in the 1980s, international organizations benefited from the efficiency of sport as a tool for education and health. The United Nations also committed themselves to sport as a means of promoting peace and development. In 2005 an international year was proclaimed for sports and physical education. An outstanding example is the peace game of the Brazilian national soccer team in Haiti in 2004, which contributed to the stabilization of the country.

sport for a fairer world

In the context of social cohesion, sport also promotes gender equality and integration of marginalized groups. Multipliers such as trainers and social workers play a crucial role here to use sports as a platform for dialogue and cooperation in conflict areas. The Swiss government has declared a priority compliance with human rights in sports and is committed to promoting sports and human rights.

Another challenge for the sport of the future is to assume social responsibility and to maintain the integrity of the games. The sporting ambition should always be in line with the values ​​that the Pope emphasizes in his messages. Sport is more than a competition - it is a way to live humanity and promote peace.

How Pope Leo XIV has aptly put it is not only part of our lives, but also a way to enrich the lives of others and thus make a small but effective contribution to a better world. The pioneering work in the field of sports and development will continue to be of great importance to create an inclusive society that has grown to the challenges of our time.

Further information on the topic can be found at Noz , Tagesspiegel and bpb .