The square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral was bathed in sunshine on Sunday as representatives of the five major religions involved in the Paris Olympic Games met. Source: Catholic Star Herald.
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus came to talk about their experiences at the multifaith centre in the Olympic Village and discuss the values of faith and sports.
The event followed a backlash against several scenes at the Games’ opening ceremony from a number of religious leaders across the world.
But the interfaith meeting has a long tradition. A similar meeting of faith leaders had taken place at Notre Dame a hundred years earlier, in 1924, during the Paris Olympic Games, at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin, who had relaunched the Olympic Games in 1894.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, and Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, were welcomed by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, and the French capital’s Auxiliary Bishop Philippe Marsset, who was delegated by the archdiocese to oversee the Olympic Games and Holy Games initiative.
Bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard of Digne, the Holy See’s special representative for the Olympics was also there along with the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and the Chief Rabbi of France, Haïm Korsia.
Meeting in front of the cathedral under the theme “How does sport mobilise the best in man and humanity,” religious leaders emphasised how sport can be a powerful sphere of positive values and unity for mankind.
“Faith and sport share many of the same values that guide us to live together in peace with our fellow human beings,” Mr Bach said.
He said that “the Olympic Games are first and foremost about sport. But they are also about much more than sport. They are about: Togetherness. Hope. Solidarity. Peace.”
FULL STORY
Interfaith leaders meet in front of Paris cathedral 100 years after first such Olympic meeting (By Caroline de Sury, OSV News via Catholic Star Herald)
Five religions gather to celebrate fraternity at Paris Olympics (Vatican News)
