杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

During an audience with members of a Roman rowing club on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis referred again to the ongoing war in Ukraine with all its horrors, which he said cannot be forgotten and remind us the cruelty of which humanity is capable. 

Promoting human friendship

Speaking to the members the 鈥淩eale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo鈥� on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its foundation, he remarked that the spirit of true sport is an important antidote to help prevent war.

Healthy competition vs. logic of profit

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that 鈥渢he values of healthy competition, friendship and solidarity鈥� are best expressed in amateur sport, noting that professional sport is more likely to be conditioned by 鈥渢he logic of profit and of exasperated competition鈥� which can even lead to violence.

He therefore encouraged the members of the rowing club 鈥渢o persevere so that through sport activity children, young people and adults can cultivate the essential values of love for truth and justice, respect for creation, a taste for beauty and goodness, the search for freedom and of peace.鈥�

鈥淧racticing sport with loyalty and a healthy competitive spirit鈥� will 鈥渉elp you face up to the demanding race of life with courage and honesty, with joy and serene faith in the future, stopping to patiently wait for those who are slower and have more difficulty walking," 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded.