Addressing athletes and members of the University of Notre Dame and Villanova University, who are in Rome to compete in a basketball game on the Solemnity of All Saints’ Day, Pope Leo highlights the importance of sports in promoting cooperation and mutual sharing and also recalls that we are called to be holy in our lives.
By Isabella H. de Carvalho
At a time when technology seems to push people apart, sport brings them together and can promote values such as fraternity, solidarity and peace, Pope Leo XIV stressed on Saturday October 31.
“By acting as a concrete way to bring people together, athletics can teach the values of cooperation and mutual sharing. This is increasingly necessary in an age marked by the distance that can be created by technology,” he said during an audience at the Vatican, with athletes and other members of the University of Notre Dame and Villanova University, the University of the Pope. alma mater.
The communities of these two American Catholic universities have gathered in Rome to compete in the “Eternal City Tip-Off”, two university basketball games, men’s and women’s, which will take place on Sunday, November 1.
“Growing up on the south side of Chicago, we often hear ‘Go Irish’ (the school’s cheer for the University of Notre Dame, editor’s note). But as you all know, Prevost graduated from Villanova! So the Pope is not taking sides. Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now,” Pope Leo joked during the audience.
Approximately 7,000 people attended the meeting in Paul VI Hall, including Father Peter Donohue, president of Villanova University, and Father Robert Dowd, president of the University of Notre Dame, as well as students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters from both academic institutions.
Pope Leo XIV receives gifts during audience (VATICAN MEDIA)
Promote fraternity, solidarity and peace
In his speech, Pope Leo
In this regard, he highlighted how the Catholic Church, in recent years, through the voice of the Popes, has promoted a vision of sport centered on “the dignity of the human person, on his integral development, on education and on relationships with others.”
He also stressed how important it is to remember that “in any competition, members of two teams, even when they have a competitive rivalry, are certainly not enemies.”
The Pope thus expressed the hope that “despite the competitive nature of university basketball”, the supporters and players of the two teams will be able to get to know each other in Rome.
Pope Leo XIV signs a basketball (VATICAN MEDIA)
No one is born champion or saint
Pope Leo also noted that their match would take place on the Solemnity of All Saints’ Day, a reminder that “God calls everyone to be holy.”
“No one is born a champion, just as no one is born a saint. Rather, holiness requires daily training in love,” the Pope explained.
He called on everyone “to ensure that every aspect of our lives, including our sporting activities, helps us to love God and our neighbor.”
Father Robert Dowd, President of the University of Notre Dame (VATICAN MEDIA)
He also recalled examples of saints for whom sport was important and who can inspire us, such as Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron saint of athletes.
Finally, the Pope stressed to his audience that “Christians are called above all to run the race of life with the aim of conquering a crown of imperishable glory”.
“Our true goal, beyond victory in a given event, is to win the prize of eternal life,” he concluded, entrusting all those present to the intercession of the various holy men and women linked to their universities: the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas of Villanova and Blessed Basil Moreau.
Father Peter Donohue, President of Villanova University (VATICAN MEDIA)
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