{"id":6560,"date":"2014-06-07T19:10:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-07T19:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pope-encourages-athletes-to-play-for-the-church\/"},"modified":"2014-06-07T19:10:00","modified_gmt":"2014-06-07T19:10:00","slug":"pope-encourages-athletes-to-play-for-the-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2014\/06\/pope-encourages-athletes-to-play-for-the-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope encourages athletes to play for the Church"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Jun 7, 2014 \/ 01:10 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Youth from around Italy turned St. Peter\u2019s Square into a giant playing field on Saturday as they ran relays, played basketball and performed karate on a day dedicated to the celebration of sports.<\/p>\n

\tAs the Pope arrived in the overflowing square participants welcomed him as their \u201ccaptain.\u201d He thanked them for the honor.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cAs captain I urge you not to block yourselves off in defense, but to come on the offense, to play together our match, which is that of the Gospel,\u201d he said May 7.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cSports in the community can be a great missionary tool, where the Church is close to every person to help them become better and to meet Jesus Christ,\u201d he told the enthusiastic crowds.<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis arrived in the early evening to witness performances of ballet and gymnastics. He also met with popular Italian sports figures and heard testimonies from those whose lives has been impacted positively by sports.<\/p>\n

\tAt one point, he met with members of an Italian amputee soccer team and posed for a group shot with one member\u2019s iPhone as the theme song from the 1981 movie \u201cChariots of Fire\u201d rang out over the square.<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope\u2019s remarks focused on how sports can bring about good in the lives of young people. He noted that sports are like school and work in helping youth develop themselves and avoid addictions to drugs and alcohol.<\/p>\n

\tHe said that to belong to a sports team \u201cmeans to reject all forms of selfishness and isolation\u2013it is an opportunity to meet and be with others, to help each other, to compete in mutual esteem and grow in brotherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe pontiff acknowledged the \u201cbeauty\u201d of team sports which do not allow for individualism.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIn my country,\u201d he recounted to the youth, \u201cwhen a player plays only for himself, they say, \u2018this one wants to eat the ball!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\tEveryone who wants to join in sports should be welcomed, he said, \u201cnot just the best, but everyone, with the advantages and limitations that everyone has, indeed, focusing on the most disadvantaged, as did Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe encouraged the young athletes to apply themselves in \u201cthe game of life\u201d as they do in sports.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cPut yourselves in the game, in the search for good, in the Church and in society, without fear, with courage, and enthusiasm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cDon\u2019t content yourselves with a mediocre \u2018tie.\u2019 Give the best of yourselves, spending your lives for that which is truly valuable and that which lasts forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis closed his remarks asking for prayers that he would be able to \u201cplay in the game\u201d of life \u201cuntil the last day when God calls me to himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tSaturday\u2019s event was organized by the Centro Sportivo Italiano, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Vatican City, Jun 7, 2014 \/ 01:10 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Youth from around Italy turned St. Peter’s Square into a giant playing field on Saturday as they ran relays, played basketball and performed karate on a day dedicated to the celebration of sp…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\nPope encourages athletes to play for the Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Jun 7, 2014 \/ 01:10 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Youth from around Italy turned St. Peter’s Square into a giant playing field on Saturday as they ran relays, played basketball and performed karate on a day dedicated to the celebration of sp...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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