VATICAN CITY  (CNS)-- As the Olympic flame continued its journey toward the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Games, Pope Leo XIV shared his blessing, welcoming the event as an opportunity to promote peace, solidarity and encounter through sport.

Ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games in Milan Feb. 6, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, sent a telegram to the Diocese of Como, where some of the Olympic competitions will be held, as well as where a Olympic Village is located, and another to Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan, as that city welcomed the "Cross of Athletes."

In a telegram Jan. 30, Cardinal Parolin said Pope Leo was sending warm wishes and an apostolic blessing to the Catholic community in Como. The Vatican released copies of the telegrams the same day.

"He expresses his deep appreciation for their fervent cooperation in this sporting event and hopes that it will be an opportunity to promote the authentic values of sport: loyalty, respect, team spirit and sacrifice, as well as social inclusion and the joy of encounter," the telegram said in Italian. 

The telegram went on to say that the pope "encourages the parish communities of the territory to experience this significant event with willingness, offering a generous Christian witness so that they may be a bright sign of the presence of Christ who calls all to fraternity ."

The cardinal also sent a telegram to Archbishop Delpini Jan. 29 on behalf of the pope, stating that Pope Leo "hopes that this important event will awaken feelings of friendship and fraternity, strengthening awareness of the value of sport in the service of the integral development of the human person." 

He wrote that the pope was sharing his apostolic blessing and prayed that "these days of healthy competition will contribute to building bridges between cultures and peoples, promoting welcoming, solidarity and peace."

Pope Leo reiterated that the Olympics sends a powerful message of fraternity and hope for peace after praying the Angelus  Feb. 1. He also shared his best wishes to the organizers and athletes. 

"I hope that all those who care about peace among peoples and are in positions of authority will take this opportunity to make concrete gestures of détente and dialogue," he said. 

The Olympic Cross, sent by the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, has been delivered to the local diocese of every city hosting the international sports competition since the London Olympics in 2012.

Athletica Vaticana, the Vatican's official sports association, presented the cross to Milan's Basilica of San Babila during an evening Mass Jan 29. Recognized in 2019, the co-ed organization includes Vatican employees, both lay and clergy and promotes sport as a tool for education, inclusion and peace. It also represents the Holy See in international sporting events. 

The cross was placed on the altar of the basilica, where it will remain until the end of the Paralympics, the archdiocese of Milan said in a press release.  

During the Mass, the telegram from Pope Leo was read aloud, and Archbishop Delpini said in his homily that sports were a "school of asceticism, morality, humanity, life, courage, and imagination," according to the press release.

"In this church, we welcome the sign of the crucified body. The Athletes' Cross is more of a crack of light than a figure: the body of Christ, crucified for love, is the opening to go beyond and embrace the mystery," Archbishop Delpini said in his homily. "The absent body encourages questions, observation and attention."

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