For the month of June, Pope Leo XIV has offered a prayer intention focused on recognizing and honoring the values of sports. Pope Leo, a known aficionado of Chicago baseball and Villanova basketball, said in his message to the faithful:
“May those who play, train or cheer, discover in sport a universal language that brings cultures together, unites peoples, and sows respect, solidarity, and personal growth.”
His message comes as three fellow Villanovans compete in the NBA Finals, as starters for the New York Knicks, as the French Open focuses global attention on the world’s best tennis players, and as the World Cup is getting under way in North America, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States cooperating to stage the tournament.
The World Cup presents a unique opportunity to recognize and uphold the values of sports. The United States is one of the hosts, and Iran will be one of the competitors. The World Cup is an opportunity to recognize the people of nations, and the humanity of those competing.
Pope Leo said, in his prayer, that sports “may always be a school of fraternity, not of empty rivalry, a space of encounter, not exclusion, a path of peace, not violence.”
At Roland Garros, Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk, top players from Russia and Ukraine, respectively, played in the women’s semifinal. Kostyuk has talked about how she carries the weight of her nation’s hardship and loss, from the brutal Russian invasion and ongoing bombardment, into every match she plays.
There is no way to compare a tennis match or a soccer match to the unspeakable suffering wrought by armed conflict. But when athletes compete to demonstrate their individual or team prowess, or to embody the hope, pride, and solidarity of their nation, they also make clear how much better a world it is when that is the nature of competition between countries.
At Salted, we recognize this unifying element of sports as “a space of encounter” as part of what allows the hard-working, untiring, cooperative, and generous competitor to exemplify all of our humble, local, personal aspirations. We also recognize that the values inherent in sports include:
- Fairness and shared commitment to agreed rules;
- Respect for the humanity, safety, and wellbeing of all who compete;
- Admiration for the hard work committed to the elevation of the game;
- Honest striving for moments of brilliance and consistent excellence;
- Solidarity with fellow athletes and with devoted fans;
- Setting an example for future generations.
Winning fair and square against the best of the best, in any field, is hard work. Doing it honestly, with consistent effort, learning, and creativity, is what makes victory worth celebrating. May we all see more of that humanizing spirit of sport far into the future.
FEATURED IMAGE
Salted Designs 