With world peace under serious threat, Pope Francis called on all nations to observe the Olympic truce and cease all conflicts for the traditional period before, during and after the Olympic Games in Paris.
May God help ‘enlighten the consciences of those in power to the grave responsibilities incumbent upon them, may he grant peacemakers success in their endeavours,’ the Pope said in a written message to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris.
The Vatican published the letter on 19 July, seven days before the opening of the Summer Games and the customary start of the observance of the Olympic truce. The archbishop celebrated Mass in Paris at the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine on 19 July to mark the official start of the Olympic truce.
The Olympic truce tradition, originating in Greece in the eighth century BC, asked that all wars and conflict be suspended during the games and seven days before and after the games as a way to make sure participants could travel to and from the venue safely.
In these troubled times, when world peace is under serious threat, it is my fervent wish that everyone will take this truce to heart, in the hope of resolving conflicts and restoring harmony.
The International Olympic Committee revived the tradition in 1992, and it works with the United Nations to pass a symbolic UN resolution before each games inviting UN member states to observe a truce to encourage the Olympic spirit of peace.
In his letter, the Pope said the Olympic Games can be ‘an exceptional meeting place between peoples, even the most hostile. The five interlinked rings represent the spirit of fraternity that should characterise the Olympic event and sporting competition in general.’
‘I therefore hope that the Paris Olympics will be an unmissable opportunity for all those who come from around the world to discover and appreciate each other, to break down prejudices, to foster esteem where there is contempt and mistrust, and friendship where there is hatred. The Olympic Games are, by their very nature, about peace, not war,’ he wrote.
‘It was in this spirit that antiquity wisely instituted a truce during the Games, and that modern times regularly attempt to revive this happy tradition,’ the Pope wrote.
‘In these troubled times, when world peace is under serious threat, it is my fervent wish that everyone will take this truce to heart, in the hope of resolving conflicts and restoring harmony,’ he wrote.
Pope Francis also sent his support and blessings to all athletes, spectators and the people of Paris, including the many Catholics who ‘are preparing to open wide the doors of their churches, schools and homes’.
‘I hope that the organisation of these Games will provide the people of France with a wonderful opportunity for fraternal harmony, enabling us to transcend differences and opposition and strengthen the unity of the nation,’ he wrote.
The Olympic Games begin on 26 July and run until 11 August, followed by the Paralympic Games, which will take place from 28 August to 8 September.
Some 10,500 athletes from around the world are set to compete in the Olympics and as many as 4,400 in the Paralympics. Thirty-seven athletes from 11 countries of origin are expected to represent the Refugee Olympic Team at the Summer Games, and eight athletes from six countries will compete in the Refugee Paralympic Team.
The Paris Summer Games will mark the first time there is the same number of women and men competing in events since the modern Summer Olympics began in Athens in 1896, where all the athletes were men.
Banner image: An illustration of the cover of a newspaper features the headline ‘Bienvenue aux Jeux Olympiques’ (‘Welcome to the Olympic Games’) above an image of the Olympic rings and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (Photo: CNS/courtesy of IOC Media.)
