Holy Father Pope Francis on June 28 received a delegation of some 300 Italian and international swimmers who are participating in the 55th international Settecolli Trophy in Rome, June 29 to July 1. The Pontiff noted that apart from achieving technical results, swimmers also offer a testimony of discipline, healthy competition and teamwork. They demonstrate that goals can be reached through training efforts, that call for great commitment and also sacrifices.
As reported by Vatican news, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “Like any sporting activity, if practiced with loyalty, swimming becomes an opportunity for formation in human and social values, to strengthen the body together with character and will power and to learn how to know and accept each other as companions.” Further, His Holiness added, “Swimming is predominantly an individual sport but it also involves teamwork because swimmers train in a sports club and at the national level where collaboration and mutual help are very important. Events such as relays and water polo are team sports.”
Stressing that the language of sports is universal and easily reaches new generations, Holy Father Pope Francis encouraged the swimmers to “send positive messages” through their activity, thus “contributing to improving the society in which we live.”
