In an audience held at the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received athletes and members of the Austrian Ski Association, a sports federation with a rich history dating back to 1905. In the framework of the 2025 World Ski Championships, the Pope urged those present to contribute to a more fraternal world, in tune with the natural wonders of their country.
During his speech, the Holy Father stressed the importance of the values that sport represents: “constancy, sincerity, friendship and solidarity.” In this context, he encouraged athletes to cultivate and promote these principles in their lives and careers.
The beauty of Austrian nature
Ski Austria, based in Innsbruck, stands as one of the oldest sports federations in the country, dedicating itself to promoting various skiing activities and highlighting the achievements of its athletes. Austria, known for its rich tradition in alpine and Nordic skiing, was praised by the Pope, who mentioned: “Your homeland, rich in majestic mountains, offers excellent opportunities for alpine sports.”
Sport as a generator of fraternity
Sport as a generator of fraternityPope Francis stressed that sport is not only a physical activity, but also a means of creating bonds of fraternity. “Sport creates fraternity,” he said, inviting those present to sing, in the midst of nature, the anthem of their country and a hymn of praise to the Creator. In this sense, the Holy Father urged the athletes to carry with them the values of sport, thus contributing to a more united and supportive world.
A request for prayer
At the end of his meeting, the Pope entrusted all those present to the protection of their Guardian Angels, hoping that they will guide and protect them. In a friendly tone, he shared: “I pray for you, and you pray for me,” adding in German: “Diese Arbeit ist nicht einfach!”, which translates as “This work is not easy!” He thanked the athletes for their commitment and effort in promoting these values in the sports field.
These are the Holy Father’s words:
Dear Monsignor Lackner
Your Excellency,
dear athletes, dear friends,
I cordially greet you, who have come from Austria to the Vatican to meet the Successor of Peter.
Your homeland, rich in majestic mountains, offers excellent opportunities for alpine sports. Your Ski Austria Association, founded in 1905, aims to promote the various skiing activities nationwide, especially athletes in their most outstanding performances. I would like to encourage all of you to always cultivate in your efforts the values inherent to sport: perseverance, sincerity, friendship, solidarity. In this way, they make their contribution to a more fraternal world – because sport creates fraternity – to sing, amidst the wonders of the nature of their country, the hymn of praise to the Creator.
May the Lord be with you and may the Guardian Angels protect you from every danger. I pray for you, and you pray for me. I pray for you, I pray for me: This work is not easy! Thank you very much.
