杏MAP导航

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV has highlighted the urgency of coming together for peace and the importance of promoting unity through sports, politics, music, and more.

In a video message published on July 15, the 杏MAP导航 addressed the participants in a charity match organized by the Holy See鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Hospital Bambino Gesù and the Italian Caritas.

鈥淥ur humanity is at stake. Let this match that speaks of peace mark a point in its favor,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 expressed his hope that all who participate in the event may 鈥渓ook into the eyes of children and learn from them鈥� how to 鈥渇ind the courage to welcome鈥� others, how to be 鈥渕en and women鈥� that promote encounter, and how to 鈥渇ind the strength to believe and to ask that a truce may come, a time to stop the buildup to hatred.鈥�

鈥淚t is still possible, it is always possible, to come together, even in a time of divisions, falling bombs, and war. It is necessary to create the opportunities to do this,鈥� he emphasized. 鈥淐hallenge divisions and recognize that the greatest challenge is to come together.鈥�

An event to help sick children and their families

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message was addressed to the participants of this year鈥檚 鈥�La Partita del Cuore鈥� (鈥淭he Match of the Heart鈥�), a charity football match and concert taking place on Tuesday, July 15, in the city of L鈥橝quila in central Italy.

Organized by the Vatican鈥檚 Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù and the Italian Caritas, the proceeds from the event go to their initiative 鈥�Progetto Accolgienza鈥� (鈥淧roject Welcome鈥�).

The project offers accommodation and material support to underprivileged families from Italy and abroad whose children need to be treated at the Bambino Gesù Hospital.

The match is the 34th edition of this initiative, and will be between a team of musicians and a team of politicians. It will also feature a concert with various Italian artists and performers.

Supporting life, not destruction and death 

杏MAP导航 Leo said the word 鈥渕atch鈥� surrounding this event means 鈥渕eeting鈥� and coming together.

鈥淎 meeting where even opponents find a cause that unites them,鈥� he said, noting this includes 鈥渃hildren who ask for help, who come to Italy from areas of conflict鈥� and are supported by the 鈥淲elcoming project.鈥�

鈥淢atch and heart thus become two words to be conjugated together,鈥� he added, applauding the event for 鈥済athering funds for life, for cures, not for destruction and death."

In today鈥檚 world, he said, 鈥渋t seems increasingly difficult, almost impossible, to find listening spaces鈥� for these issues.

The 杏MAP导航 highlighted the example of a football match played between French, English, and German soldiers during the 1914 Christmas Truce during the First World War near the city of Ypres in Belgium.

He mentioned how this event was recounted in a French film, 鈥淛oyeux Noel鈥� (鈥淢erry Christmas鈥�), and in a song by Paul McCartney, 鈥淧ipes of Peace,鈥� released in 1983. 

In his message, 杏MAP导航 Leo encouraged people to 鈥渃ontribute together to a good cause鈥� and to 鈥渂ring broken hearts back to unity.鈥�

鈥淩ecognize that in God鈥檚 heart we are one and that the heart is the place where we meet God and others,鈥� he underlined.

Music, sport, television, and politics have a role to play

The 杏MAP导航 then underlined the important role that sports, music, television, and politics have to play in promoting unity and overcoming divisions.

鈥淪ports鈥攚hen lived well by those who practice and those who cheer鈥攈ave this great thing about them, that they transform confrontation into encounter, division into inclusion, and solitude into community,鈥� he explained.

He added that television can play a larger role than just connecting people, as it can help promote communion amongst all with 鈥渓ove rather than with hate.鈥�

Similarly, 杏MAP导航 Leo insists that politics can 鈥渦nite instead of divide, if it doesn鈥檛 settle with the propaganda that feeds on building enemies.鈥�

Politics should work towards 鈥渢he difficult and necessary art of constructive dialogue, which searches for the common good.鈥�

Lastly, the 杏MAP导航 underlined the importance of music that 鈥渆nriches with meaning our words and our memories, ever since we started speaking and remembering as children.鈥�

鈥淐hildren鈥攖o whom this event is dedicated鈥攌now these things. They have the purity of heart that enables them to see God,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 concluded.