Pope Francis addressed a crowd of 15,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square during the Regina Coeli prayer, where he spoke about the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. This day, celebrated annually on April 6th, recognizes the positive impact that sports and physical activity have on communities worldwide. The global theme for 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”, emphasizing the role sports play in building social harmony.
During his address, Pope Francis highlighted the values of sports in educating people on open, supportive, and unprejudiced social behavior. He called for leaders and trainers to focus on promoting sports that foster social friendship and fraternity rather than just focusing on winning or making money. The Pope also took a moment to remember the victims of a tragic bus crash in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, where 45 people lost their lives while heading to an Easter conference on Holy Thursday. He expressed his condolences and urged everyone to pray for the victims and their families during this difficult time.
The President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference also spoke out against the loss of life, emphasizing that every human life is valuable and that tragedies like this should not happen. He encouraged everyone to use this day as an opportunity to reflect on how we can promote peace and inclusivity through sports and physical activity.
