Pope: Sport must foster social friendship and fraternity

By Linda Bordoni

Addressing some 15,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square and believers following the Regina Coeli Prayer through media outlets across the world, Pope Francis on Sunday recalled the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace which is celebrated annually on 6 April.

The World Day was established by the United Nations as an opportunity to recognize the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the globe.

The global theme for 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”.

The Holy Father upheld its values saying “We all know how practising a sport can educate to an open, supportive, unprejudiced sociality.”

However, he continued “For this we need leaders and trainers who do not only aim at winning or making money: Let us promote a sport that fosters social friendship and fraternity!”

Prayers for victims of South Africa bus crash

The Pope also recalled a bus crash in South Africa’s Limpopo Province in which 45 people were killed as they headed to an Easter conference on Holy Thursday.

“I wish to remember the people who died in the bus crash in South Africa a few days ago. Let us pray for them and for their families,” he said.