Pope Leo’s greeting to a delegation of the “Special Olympics”
Clementine Hall – Saturday, 19 September 2026
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Good morning to you all,
As you know, I am also very fond of sports.
I believe in their great educational value because they instill noble and authentic values in people.
Furthermore, sports offer the opportunity to demonstrate these values in competitive and amateur sports and, above all, in the lives of athletes.
Participating in sports requires dedication, hard work, and the ability to share the fruits of one’s perseverance with loyalty, trust, openness, team spirit, and courage.
You embody these qualities in a special way, demonstrating the beauty of sports to those who participate in and watch the competitions and to those who know and meet you.
Pope Francis, while receiving a group of athletes from Special Olympics, said:
You are a symbol of a sport that opens eyes and hearts to the value and dignity of individuals who would otherwise be the objects of prejudice and exclusion.
During these days, you will have the opportunity to reaffirm the importance of “unified” sports, in which athletes with and without intellectual disabilities play together.
Your commitment and conviction in this beautiful reality fuels hope for a positive and fruitful future in sports because it enables sports to become a true occasion of inclusion and participation. Never tire of showing to the world of sports your shared commitment to building a more fraternal society, in which people can grow and develop and fully achieve their own capacities.
In this sense, sport is one of the universal languages that overcomes cultural, social, religious and physical differences, and that manages to unite people, making them participants in the same game and, together, protagonists of victory and defeat.” (13 October 2017) and entrusted this witness to you in a special way.
I am doing the same today because our world needs people like you who remind everyone of life’s true values. We need men and women who show by example that sharing and love lead to true happiness and peace.
Dear athletes, coaches, managers, assistants, and support staff, I thank you for your presence, the genuine joy you bring, and the positive message you embody.
I encourage you to continue your work with enthusiasm.
My dear friends, I entrust you to the intercession of Mary and St Pier Giorgio Frassati. Like you, he was a young athlete who fell in love with Jesus.
Together with his friends, he translated the values of sports into a good, generous, and holy life.
I bless you with all my heart, along with your families and all those dear to you.
Thank you!