Pope Leo urges the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics to inspire friendship, solidarity, and peace through sport that unites peoples and cultures.
Newsroom (30/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) As the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics draw near, Pope Leo has offered a powerful call for the Games to become a celebration of unity, friendship, and peace among nations. In a telegram sent Thursday evening to the Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini, and signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope expressed profound spiritual closeness to those gathering in Milan’s Church of San Babila for a special ceremony welcoming the Athletes’ Cross.
The Athletes’ Cross, now housed in the Church of San Babila for the duration of the Games, serves as a sacred emblem uniting faith and sport. The official welcome ceremony, presided over by Archbishop Delpini, marks a symbolic beginning for the Milan–Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games, scheduled from 6 to 22 February.
Pope Leo’s telegram shines with a spirit of fraternity and hope. He shared his heartfelt wish that the occasion “might awaken feelings of friendship and fraternity, strengthening awareness of the value of sport at the service of the integral development of the human person.” His words place sport not merely as competition but as a vital force for shaping character and nurturing community.
Extending his message beyond the walls of the church, the Pope urged that the Olympic spirit reflect the universal mission of peace. He said he would be praying that the “healthy competition” among athletes may “help build bridges between cultures and peoples, promoting welcome, solidarity, and peace.”
The celebration also drew religious leaders and representatives of the Catholic community engaged in pastoral work related to sport. Among them were Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and Father Michele Gianola, Undersecretary of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) and interim Director of the National Office for the Pastoral Care of Leisure, Tourism, and Sport.
By blessing the Athletes’ Cross and sending his message of encouragement, Pope Leo framed the coming Winter Olympics not only as a global sporting event but as a moment for collective reflection—a chance for humanity to rediscover fraternity, overcome divisions, and strengthen the bonds between peoples and cultures on the world stage.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
Related Images:
