On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Leo XIV drew a profound connection between the divine life of the Trinity and the virtues fostered by sport.
Newsroom, June 15, 2025, Gaudium Press – In a stirring homily delivered during the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Leo XIV drew a profound connection between the divine life of the Trinity and the virtues fostered by sport, as the Church also marked the Jubilee of Sport. Speaking to a packed Saint Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff emphasized how athletic endeavors reflect God’s dynamic love and serve as a training ground for human and Christian values.
Quoting Proverbs, Pope Leo XIV reflected on divine wisdom: “The Lord possessed me, the beginning of his ways … I was his delight day by day, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race” (Prov 8:22, 27, 30-31). He cited Saint Augustine, noting that wisdom, revealed in the Trinity, guides humanity to truth. The Pope described God’s inner life as a perichoresis—a “dance” of love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—that spills over into creation, finding joy in humanity and the world.
This divine joy, he said, resonates in sport, which he called a reflection of God’s beauty. Drawing on the writings of Church Fathers like Saint Salonius of Geneva and Saint Gregory Nazianzen, who spoke of a Deus ludens (a “playful” God), the Pope urged athletes to see sport as more than competition. “Sport challenges us to relate to others, not only outwardly but interiorly,” he said, warning against reducing it to “an empty competition of inflated egos.”
The Pope highlighted the Italian cheer “Dai!”—meaning “Give!”—as a reminder that sports are about self-giving, whether for personal growth, teammates, or even opponents. He echoed Saint John Paul II, a known sports enthusiast, who called sport “a game, a celebration” that fosters friendship and dialogue, free from utilitarian motives (Homily, Jubilee of Sports, April 12, 1984).
Pope Leo XIV outlined three ways sport cultivates virtues in today’s world:
- Fostering Community: In an era of individualism, team sports teach cooperation and sharing, mirroring the communal life of the Trinity (Jn 16:14-15). They promote reconciliation across communities, schools, and nations.
- Grounding in Reality: Amid a digital age that often isolates, sport unites people physically, encouraging a healthy connection to the body, effort, and nature, rooted in authentic love (1 Jn 3:18).
- Embracing Fragility: In a success-driven culture, sport teaches the value of losing, confronting human limitations and fostering hope. “Champions are not perfect machines,” the Pope said, “but real men and women who rise after falling.”
The pontiff recalled Saint John Paul II’s description of Jesus as “the true athlete of God,” who triumphed through love, not strength (Homily, Jubilee of Sportsmen and Sportswomen, October 29, 2000). He also highlighted Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron of athletes, set for canonization on September 7, 2025, as an example of how daily discipline in love leads to spiritual victory.
Reflecting on history, Pope Leo XIV noted Saint Paul VI’s 1965 address to a Catholic athletic group, where he praised sport’s role in rebuilding hope after World War II (Address to C.S.I., March 20, 1965). The Pope entrusted athletes with a mission to reflect God’s love, urging them to draw inspiration from the Virgin Mary, whom Pope Francis described as ever active and ready to serve (Address to Volunteers of World Youth Day, August 6, 2023).
The homily concluded with a call to pursue the “greatest victory”: eternal life, where “joy will be complete” (1 Cor 9:24-25; 2 Tim 4:7-8).
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican news
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