Pope Francis applauded the unifying power of sports on Sunday, ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which kick off on Friday 26 July.
The Pope acknowledged the influential societal role of sports in the peaceful unison of divergent cultures, in his gathering with pilgrims at the St. Peter's Square post his regular Angelus prayer.
"Hopefully, these games can symbolise the inclusive world we aim to create," said the 87-year-old Pope. He expressed his wish for athletes to serve as ambassadors of peace and as real-life examples, especially for youngsters.
Paying homage to the ancient tradition, the Pope reminisced how Olympics used to be an outlet for establishing a ceasefire during wars, demonstrating a genuine longing for peace.
The Paris Olympics is scheduled from 26 July to 21 August, followed by the Paralympics from 28 August to 8 September.
