Vatican to Hosts Jubilee of Sport: A Celebration of Faith, Resilience, and Unity

Vatican City, 13 June, 2025 : The Vatican will host the Jubilee of Sport on 14–15 June, inviting reflection on sport as a powerful force for resilience, fraternity, and human growth. Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, highlighted this at the Vatican Press Office, stating, “Sport teaches us to rise after a fall, just as faith sustains us in times of difficulty.”

The two-day event will culminate in a Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, 15 June.

At the press conference, Novella Calligaris—Italy’s first Olympic swimming medallist and a world record holder—emphasised that losing in sport reveals an athlete’s character. “The result speaks for itself, but what truly matters is the journey: the motivation, setbacks, and triumphs,” she said. She also called for a return to the ancient Greek holistic vision of sport, which embraced poetry, dance, and song.

Cardinal Tolentino underscored the communal nature of sport, saying, “Even when practised alone, sport is a communal act.” He stressed its ability to touch the heart and foster a longing for meaning and transcendence. Recalling the Pope’s recent words to Giro d’Italia cyclists—“You are role models for young people around the world”—he urged athletes to embrace their role as “missionaries of hope.”

The Jubilee begins on Saturday with the conference “The Momentum of Hope: Stories Beyond the Podium” at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute. Speakers include Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, alongside Olympians and representatives from pastoral sporting ministries. The day will also feature a Jubilee Audience in St. Peter’s Square and a pilgrimage through the Holy Door.

In the evening, attendees will watch “Chariots of Fire”, celebrating the intersection of passion, faith, and sport.

Giampaolo Mattei, President of Athletica Vaticana, emphasised that the Jubilee is not a competition but a shared Christian experience for athletes, coaches, supporters, and families—“one great team, equal in dignity, regardless of medals.”

A highlight of Sunday’s Eucharist will be the presentation of the Cross of Athletes—a spiritual symbol for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games—by the French Bishops’ Conference. Blessed by Pope Francis, the Cross will be housed in the Chapel of Athletes at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene and passed to future Olympic host dioceses, continuing the tradition of the WYD Cross.

Courtesy: Vatican News