杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis met on Wednesday with a delegation of riders competing in the San Marino and Rimini Coast鈥檚 motorcycle Grand Prix Octo.

The sporting event takes place Sunday, September 9^th in the northeastern Italian town of Misano Adriatico, near the Republic of San Marino.

Sport an educational tool

Speaking to the MotoGP racers, 杏MAP导航 Francis said sport is an irreplaceable educational tool, especially for young people.

Sport, he said, 鈥渟timulates a healthy transcendence of self and self-centeredness, teaches a spirit of sacrifice, and, if done well, inspires loyalty in interpersonal relationships, friendship, and respect for rules.鈥�

Passion for life

杏MAP导航 Francis then reflected on two concepts related to sport: passion and what it means to be a champion.

An important factor when young people commit suicide, he mused, is a lack of passion for life.

The Holy Father said sporting activities can help instill that passion. 鈥淭he world needs passion,鈥� he said, for people 鈥渢o live with passion, and not like those who let life weigh them down.鈥�

He also said the true 鈥渃hampion in life鈥� is the person who lives with passion.

Promoting Christian values

杏MAP导航 Francis invited the MotoGP racers to help transmit that passion for life to the many people who follow their professional activities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that people involved in sport鈥檚 various levels promote the human and Christian values that are at the root of a just and mutually supportive society.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said sport promotes friendship and dialogue, 鈥渂ecause the sporting event is expressed in universal language, which transcends borders, languages, races, religions, and ideologies.鈥� Amateur sport is especially helpful for society, he said, since it comes from the heart.

This, the Holy Father said, gives sport 鈥渢he intrinsic ability to unite people, and encourage dialogue and acceptance.鈥�