Pope Francis expressed his optimism on Sunday that the upcoming Paris Olympics, set to commence on Friday, could serve as a catalyst for temporary ceasefires in ongoing global conflicts.
The Pope’s remarks highlighted the potential for the international sporting event to bring nations together and promote peace, even if only for a brief period.
By invoking the ancient Olympic tradition of declaring a truce during the Games, Pope Francis encouraged world leaders to seize this opportunity to lay down arms and work towards a more harmonious world.
The Pope, who said this during his weekly address to the crowd in St Peter’s Square, urged athletes to be messengers of peace and models for young people.
The games will start on Friday with an opening ceremony on the River Seine featuring about 10,500 athletes and over 100 heads of state and government.
Pope Francis said he hoped that “according to the ancient tradition, the Olympics will be an opportunity to establish a truce in wars by demonstrating a sincere desire for peace.”
He mentioned the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Myanmar and other countries, saying, “Let us not forget war is a defeat.”
Last month, the final statement of a Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ meeting held in Italy included a unanimous call for a truce in global conflicts during the Olympic Games.
