The countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics is just over two months away. The Vatican’s Ministry of Culture and Education, in cooperation with the embassy in France, has also launched a preparatory program for the world’s biggest international sporting event.
“So the real focus here is how do we approach the Paris Olympics in summer 2024?” asked Bishop John Burress of the Diocese of Rockville Center, New York.
“How does the Catholic Church, with its bold and humble missiology and spirit of Catholic evangelization, approach the World Cup, the World Series, the Tour de France, the Boston Marathon, the Super Bowl, and March Madness?”
Florence Mangina, Ambassador to France, explained the role of the Church in promoting the Olympic spirit.
“In the current situation where war is tearing the world apart, Olympism is first and foremost a message of peace, and the commitment of a universal Church like France is essential. The role of the Church in promoting Olympism is well known. ”
In Rome, cardinals joined sports ministers and former Olympians to discuss how faith and sport are intertwined.
Bishop Barres emphasized the importance of combining athletics and faith as a way for people to stay grounded even after their athletic careers are over.
“We all know the dark side of the world sports world. We are now seeing Pope Francis talking about the throwaway culture. In the case of athletes, as incredible celebrities It can be seen that it is possible to obtain the position of
“They may be earning a high salary, but after a certain period of time, the salary disappears. So the truth of the Catholic Church, the truth of Jesus Christ, is the most important thing in the world of sports. It is very important that it is shared in the global mission field.”
This summer, more than 10,000 athletes will participate in 32 world-class sports.
In his message to conference participants, Pope Francis called on everyone to maintain the “amateur” spirit of sports and remain authentic.
