Oppose all violence, Pontiff tells pilgrims, as he reflects on sports, pleads for peace
June 17, 2025
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CWN Editor's Note: As the Jubilee of Sport came to a close, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the value of sports, called for opposition to “all forms of violence and bullying,” and pleaded for an end to violent conflicts around the world.
“I think it is important to emphasize that sport is a means of building peace, since, as a training-ground of fairness and respect for others, it fosters a culture of encounter and fraternity,” the Pope said during the Angelus address, delivered in St. Peter’s Square. “Sisters and brothers, I encourage you always to keep this in mind, opposing all forms of violence and bullying.”
“The world today is in need of this message,” Pope Leo continued. “There is currently so much armed conflict. In Myanmar, fighting persists despite the ceasefire, causing damage also to civilian infrastructures. I invite all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue, the only path that can lead to a peaceful and enduring solution.”
“Let us continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine and throughout the world,” the Pope added later in his address, which concluded with this invocation: “May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for us.”
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