Pope Leo XIV meets with Special Olympics delegation at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV held a private audience at the Vatican with a delegation from Special Olympics, including athletes, coaches, and executives. The group included representatives from Special Olympics Italia, who participated in the Special Olympics World Winter Games Torino 2025, as well as leaders from Special Olympics International.

During the meeting, the Pope emphasized the educational and formative value of sport, noting its ability to instill noble values such as loyalty, trust, teamwork, and courage. He described sport as a universal language capable of transcending cultural, social, and religious boundaries to unite people through shared experiences of victory and defeat.

Addressing the athletes, the Pope stated that the world needs individuals who serve as witnesses to the true values of life, demonstrating through their examples that the path of sharing and love leads to peace and happiness.