#sport4all: Pope encourages to make sport a home for everyone, open and welcoming

With the Audience that the Holy Father gave to the participants, the International Summit 'Sport for All', organised by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life together with the Dicastery for Culture and Education, with the collaboration of the John Paul II Foundation for Sport, came to an end.

How we can change our society for the better

Cardinal Kevin Farrell gave a final speech on behalf of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and the Dicastery for Culture and Education to deeply and warmly thank Pope Francis for his presence and support for this initiative. The Cardinal also sume up the progress of the last days: “Over these two days we engaged in joint reflection on sport and the role that sport can play in fostering social cohesion and acceptance, especially at this time following a long and distressful pandemic. We must ask ourselves how we can change our society for the better. It was also proposed that we sign a Declaration indicating the common goals we wish to achieve, and the tasks and responsibilities we all want to assume”.

"I am close to you in this mission; the Church supports you in this educational and social commitment"

Pope Francis entered the Aula Paulo VI  welcomed by the 250 participants from 40 different countries. In his speech, he addressed all participants, saying: “I encourage you to strive to make sport a home for everyone, something open and welcoming. In this home, never lose the family spirit, for in this way, we may find brothers, sisters and friends in the world of sport. I am close to you in this mission; the Church supports you in this educational and social commitment.”

The Declaration: a commitment to a cohesive sport, an accessible sport, and a tailored sport

At the end of his address, each signatory then took turns greeting the Holy Father before signing the Declaration on Sport, pledging to take-on the work, outlined over these past two days. As such, signatories committed to bringing the Declaration to life. Fundamental to this task is the understanding that ‘this Declaration is not just a statement of principles, but a Declar-Action, an invitation to concrete actions… [for] the future of society’. In other words, the work only now begins. That is, realizing the vision of Sport for All, requires a commitment to a cohesive sport, an accessible sport, and a tailored sport. In doing so, sport transforms our society and our world - recognizing that our true team is the human family. Each of these categories - cohesive, accessible, and tailored - highlights a different component of the work ahead. A cohesive sport, implies one that brings people in, rather than just an elite few. An accessible sport, implies one that is open to all, especially the most marginalized groups. A tailored sport, implies one that provides the resources necessary to accompany each individual person, just as they are.  With the momentum and guidance of the experts convened at the Summit, participants pledged to walk together – communiter – because nobody can accomplish this task alone.

Those who wish to adhere to the declaration can sign it on the website www.sportforall.va