Pope asks that the Olympics make Brazil more "just and safe"
"To the Brazilians, who with their characteristic joy and hospitality organize this celebration of sport, I wish that this may be an opportunity to overcome difficult times and dedicate themselves to teamwork in building a more just and secure country, betting on a future full of joy and hope," said the pontiff, regarding the Games.
Ansa - During the general audience this Wednesday (3), Pope Francis expressed his wish that the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro would serve to make Brazil a "more just" country.
A day after saying that sport should promote "peace in the world," the leader of the Catholic Church dedicated a special thought to the nation hosting this year's Olympics, amid one of the most serious crises in its recent history.
"To the Brazilians, who with their characteristic joy and hospitality organize this celebration of sport, I wish that this may be an opportunity to overcome difficult times and dedicate themselves to teamwork in building a more just and secure country, betting on a future full of joy and hope," said Jorge Bergoglio.
Furthermore, the Pope stated that he hopes the Olympic Games will inspire athletes and spectators to fight the "good fight," seeking as a prize not a medal, but "something more precious: a civilization in which solidarity reigns, founded on the recognition that we are all members of a single family."
Last Tuesday (2), Francis had included the importance of sport in his prayer intentions for the month of August, asking for the construction of a "culture of encounter" and "a world of peace" during the Olympics.
On the same day, theologian Leonardo Boff reported on Twitter that Jorge Bergoglio had sent a letter of support to the ousted president Dilma Rousseff, whose impeachment trial will take place in the coming weeks.