This Thursday, Pope Francis joined the call for an Olympic Truce proposed by the UN for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, given the current “particularly dark historical moment.”
“In the particularly dark historical moment in which we live, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris are an opportunity for peace. Reflecting once again on the value of the Olympic Truce proposed by the United Nations, I hope that sport can build bridges, break down barriers and contribute to peaceful relations in concrete ways,” the Pope writes in the preface to the book “Games of Peace, the Soul of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.” , an initiative of Vatican Athletics, which was released this Thursday.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
Traditionally, the United Nations (UN) declares an Olympic Truce, which begins a week before the Games and ends a week after them.
According to the leader of the Catholic Church, “the true Olympic and Paralympic spirit is the antidote to the tragedy of war and the redemption of ourselves by ending violence.”
Francisco also expressed hope for the acceptance of “a call for truce, emanating from the common popular Olympic language, understandable to everyone in all latitudes.”
“I hope that Olympic and Paralympic sport, with its moving human stories of redemption and brotherhood, sacrifice and loyalty, team spirit and inclusivity, can become an original diplomatic channel for overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” he further stressed.
French and Chinese Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping have also already signed up to the call, which, if accepted, could halt conflicts in places like Ukraine or the Gaza Strip.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky rejected the idea because he did not trust his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and did not believe that the head of state would withdraw his troops.
Zelensky wondered whether Russia would take advantage of the truce to send its troops into Ukrainian territory.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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