In preparation for the World Cup Soccer finals to be held in Italy in June 1990 the Italian
Episcopal Conference sponsored a seminar on the topic of `Sports, ethics and faith for the
development of Italian society”. On Saturday, 25 November, the Holy Father received the
congress participants and gave the following address.
1. In expressing my cordial welcome to all of you, Diocesan Directors of the sports
apostolate, directors of athletic associations of Christian inspiration, and to authorities of the
Italian world of sports, I want to express my deep satisfaction to the Italian Episcopal
Conference which, through the work of the department responsible for this area, has
sponsored the national congress on "Sports, ethics and faith for the development of Italian
society". Your presence reminds me of my memorable meeting with the athletes in Rome's
Olympic Stadium during the Jubilee Year of the Redemption on 12 April 1984.
On that occasion I recalled "the fundamental validity of sports not only for providing
terms for illustrating a superior ethical and ascetical ideal, but also in its intrinsic value as a
factor in the formation of the person and a component of culture and civilization”
(Insegnamenti, VII, 1, 1984, p. 1006.)
Indeed, we know that St. Paul refers to sports activity to point out the spirit of courage
demanded by the Christian life if one truly wants to be in conformity to Christ. Life according
to the Gospel requires a rigorous and constant discipline, and is manifested as a continuous
challenge against the forces of the powers of evil present and at work in us and the world.
Therefore St. Paul, quite aware of the difficulties, invites us to “fight the good fight of faith" 1
Tim 6:12), not becoming discouraged by obstacles, and suggests that we not forget the certain
reality of the prize, saying “run towards the finish line to receive the prize to which God calls
(you) on high” (Phil 3:14).
Christian life, therefore, is like a rather demanding sport, combining all a person’s
energies to direct them towards the perfection of character, towards e goal which realizes in
our humanity “the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph 4:7).
2. Your congress is fittingly set within the context of the preparations for the coming World
Cup competitions, in order to prepare a serene reflection on an event that will certainly attract
the attention of billions of people, at the same time offering the possibility to examine the
contribution which sport makes to the development of the person and the improvement of the
quality of life. May this time of the Church’s reflection cause a growth in the value and
authoritativeness of a farsighted teaching to protect man in his physical and moral integrity.
In repeating once again that the Church "cannot abandon man” (Redemptor Hominis,
14), but also that the human person is the object of her care, it is legitimate to ask ourselves
how sports can truly contribute to the improvement of modern society. We are all concerned
on this account because sports can degenerate into manifestations which dishonour the noble
ideals which they can promote, and for which millions of people are interested in them.
An indisputably positive factor that today sports are characterized by a demand for
quality and meaning. It is necessary to restore to them not only a renewed and continuing
dignity, but most of all the capacity to evoke and sustain some of the deepest human needs,
such as mutual respect, a freedom that is not empty but directed to an end, renunciation for a
purpose.
3. Your congress is devoted to showing the relationship between sports, ethics and the faith in
the complexity and vastness of the various fields, in order to deepen reflection on the reality
of sports and to foster a renewed involvement in it corresponding to the objectives of
formation, particularly of young people. The Church must be in the front ranks in this area, in
order to plan a special apostolate adapted to the needs of athletes and especially to promote
sports which can create the condition of a life rich in hope. I am referring to the various
activities which the Catholic athletic associations, both in the parishes and the youth centres
which are helped by organizations animated by Christian principles, organize for children and
young people. I express to them my affection and appreciation for their valuable educative
work.
Your congress has also sought to study the relationship between sports and society, in
the conviction that sports is a valid factor of socialization and growth in relations of
friendship in an atmosphere of solidarity. In such a way you have also sought to view the
basic connections between athletic aspects and moral ones.
The ethical conditions of the person in sports and the various situations of athletic
organization also need a reference to the relativity of sport in regard to the primacy of the
person, thus emphasizing the subsidiary role of sports in God’s creative plan. Therefore,
sports must also be viewed within the dynamics of service, and not in that of profit. Keeping
in mind the objectives of humanization, one cannot fail to notice the unavoidable task of
transforming sports ever more into an instrument of the elevation of man towards the
supernatural goal to which is called.
Since sport does not exist for its own sake it runs the risk of being raised to the status of a
vain and dangerous idol; these deceptive and misleading expressions, which unfortunately are
sometimes observed, must be avoided. A healthy use of sports must be attentive to these
deviations in order to prevent that well-known occasional recourse which aims merely at
obtaining results, but is not concerned with the true advancement of the person or ultimately
that of sport itself.
4. Your presence offers me the occasion to express my good wishes for the success of the
coming world soccer championships. I know that you have focused your attention on this
event also, which will involve not only the cities chosen for the qualifying matches, but
millions of people throughout Italy, also because of the presence of so many players and fans
from all parts of the world, and the problems which will involve many institutions,
organizations, and reception groups.
My wish is that, on the occasion of such an event, the competition may be a wonderful
occasion for the exchange of friendship and fraternity. The meeting of persons of various
nationalities for a loyal and serene confrontation on the playing fields in some way represents
a type of universal gathering where the values of unity and peace emerge. In such a way
sports will make its contribution to the building up of the world we wish for, in which every
individual truly feels that he is the other’s brother and sister.
To you and the whole athletic world I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing, as a
pledge of the light and inner strength which only the Lord can give.