At 9:00am this morning (3:00am EDT), in the Atrium of the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, received in audience a delegation of motorcyclists who will participate in the upcoming Octo Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera.
Dear friends,
I am pleased to welcome you who are representing motorcyclists who are taking part in the upcoming Octo Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera. I greet all of you warmly: managers, riders and technicians, and I thank you for your visit. I especially greet the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and I thank you for your words of greeting.
Your presence offers me an opportunity to point out the importance of sports for society today. The Church considers sporting activity, practiced in full respect for the rules, to be a valid educational tool especially for the younger generations, even irreplaceable. In fact, the sporting phenomenon stimulates healthy overcoming of themselves and their selfishness, trains us to possess a spirit of sacrifice and, if it is well practiced, arouses loyalty in interpersonal relationships, friendship and respect for the rules.
It is important that those involved in sports, at various levels, promote those human and Christian values that underlie a more just and supportive society. This is possible because sporting events are expressed in a universal language that transcends borders, languages, races, religions and ideologies. This is seen above all when dealing with amateur sports: a language that comes from the heart. Therefore, it possesses the intrinsic capacity to welcome and unite people, and fostering dialogue.
I encourage you to spread the values of sports: in this way you will contribute to building a more just and supportive society. And I would like to stop and focus on two words that the president said. One is passion: when I read the news about young people's suicides - and there are many - but what happened there? At least I can say that in that life, there was a lack of passion, someone did not know how to sow the passions for life. And then the difficulties with this passion were not being dealt with. Be contagious with passion: this world needs passion. Live with passion, and not like someone who sees life as a burden. Passion is moving forward. And the second word is: life champion. Yes, one can become a champion through sporting success, champion of the team, that's what it is ... But a champion of life is someone who lives with passion; someone who lives life fully is able to live like this. Passion and life champions: two beautiful words.
With these wishes, I assure you and your families of a remembrance in my prayer, and I willingly invoke the blessing of the Lord upon you.
(Original text in Italian)
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to motorcyclists
Dear friends,
I am pleased to welcome you who are representing motorcyclists who are taking part in the upcoming Octo Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera. I greet all of you warmly: managers, riders and technicians, and I thank you for your visit. I especially greet the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and I thank you for your words of greeting.
Your presence offers me an opportunity to point out the importance of sports for society today. The Church considers sporting activity, practiced in full respect for the rules, to be a valid educational tool especially for the younger generations, even irreplaceable. In fact, the sporting phenomenon stimulates healthy overcoming of themselves and their selfishness, trains us to possess a spirit of sacrifice and, if it is well practiced, arouses loyalty in interpersonal relationships, friendship and respect for the rules.
It is important that those involved in sports, at various levels, promote those human and Christian values that underlie a more just and supportive society. This is possible because sporting events are expressed in a universal language that transcends borders, languages, races, religions and ideologies. This is seen above all when dealing with amateur sports: a language that comes from the heart. Therefore, it possesses the intrinsic capacity to welcome and unite people, and fostering dialogue.
I encourage you to spread the values of sports: in this way you will contribute to building a more just and supportive society. And I would like to stop and focus on two words that the president said. One is passion: when I read the news about young people's suicides - and there are many - but what happened there? At least I can say that in that life, there was a lack of passion, someone did not know how to sow the passions for life. And then the difficulties with this passion were not being dealt with. Be contagious with passion: this world needs passion. Live with passion, and not like someone who sees life as a burden. Passion is moving forward. And the second word is: life champion. Yes, one can become a champion through sporting success, champion of the team, that's what it is ... But a champion of life is someone who lives with passion; someone who lives life fully is able to live like this. Passion and life champions: two beautiful words.
With these wishes, I assure you and your families of a remembrance in my prayer, and I willingly invoke the blessing of the Lord upon you.
(Original text in Italian)
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