As the sporting world and fans await the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Paralympic Games, eight Catholic dioceses in Greater Paris have already ignited their own Olympic flame by organising the “Holy Games”. Source: The Conversation.
The project is a collaboration between the Archdiocese of Paris and the French Bishops Conference.
The Holy Games consists of three programs, each lasting a week – two during the Olympics and the third during the Paralympics. The Holy Games will bring missionaries, Catholics and other spectators together to watch the Olympics and Paralympics, celebrate Mass and engage in fellowship through various cultural activities.
French church leaders view this initiative as an opportunity to engage young Catholics and others in faith-based activities. According to La Croix International, a French Catholic newspaper, the Catholic Church in France sees the Olympics as an opportunity to harness the power of sport to evangelise.
Using sport as an evangelical tool, however, is not a new phenomenon for the global Catholic Church. In fact, several popes have contributed to the development of Catholicism and sport.
These include Popes Leo XIII, Pius X, Pius XII, John Paul II and Pope Francis, who in 2016 founded the Sport at the Service of Humanity movement, which seeks to use sport as a catalyst for peace and social change.
The Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
FULL STORY
The Catholic Church is using the upcoming Paris Olympics to engage young people − but several popes have already promoted sports as a way to teach Christian values (By A. Jaime Morales Jr., University of Connecticut, The Conversation)
Church prepares special events for the 2024 Summer Olympics (La Croix)
