Pope Leo XIV praises Special Olympics athletes, cites Frassati as model

Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation of Special Olympics athletes at the Vatican on September 19 to praise their participation in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin. The Pope encouraged the Italian athletes to live holy lives by following the example of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, whom he described as a young sportsman who translated athletic values into a generous and holy life through his love for Jesus.

During the meeting, the Pope expressed his personal fondness for sports and noted their educational value in teaching noble and authentic values. He said that participating in sports requires serious commitment and hard work, which helps people develop loyalty, trust, openness, team spirit, and courage.

The Special Olympics is an international organization founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to promote sports for people with intellectual disabilities. The organization operates in more than 190 countries and includes approximately 5 million athletes worldwide.