Taranto: Pope Leo XIV has called on athletes taking part in the 2026 Mediterranean Games to show how sport can bring people together and become a sign of peace. His message comes as the southern Italian city of Taranto prepares to welcome thousands of athletes from countries connected by the Mediterranean Sea.
The 20th Mediterranean Games will take place in Taranto from August 21 to September 3. About 4,000 athletes from 26 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe are expected to compete in 33 sports.
The Holy See will also have a presence at the event through Athletica Vaticana, the Vatican sports association. Four of its athletes will compete in different disciplines. Fabrizio Peloni and Tiziano Lucarelli will take part in the men’s padel doubles competition, while Daniele Fontana will compete in épée fencing. Emiliano Morbidelli will represent Athletica Vaticana in cycling.
Speaking during the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Leo expressed his hope that the Games would go beyond sporting competition and become an opportunity for friendship between people and nations.
He said he hoped the sporting event could be a “prophecy of peace and fraternity” for the peoples of the Mediterranean region and for the wider world.
The Pope has repeatedly spoken about the ability of sport to create opportunities for people to meet despite their different backgrounds. In his view, competition does not have to create division. Instead, athletes can recognize one another as members of the same human family.
The message is particularly significant at a time when several parts of the world continue to face war, political tensions and humanitarian challenges. The Mediterranean region itself has been affected by conflicts, migration pressures and social divisions.
The opening day of the Games will also have a strong spiritual dimension. Archbishop Ciro Miniero of Taranto is expected to celebrate Mass at the city’s cathedral together with Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. The ceremony will welcome the Cross of the Athletes.
The Cross will remain in the cathedral during the Games as a spiritual symbol for athletes and visitors. It has accompanied major international sporting events since the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
Archbishop Miniero said the Games provide an opportunity to demonstrate that sport can help people look beyond differences in nationality, social background and religious belief. He said athletes who may come from countries or communities that are divided by conflict can instead meet one another through a spirit of friendship.
His message comes against the backdrop of wars and the growing climate emergency, both of which continue to affect communities around the world. He said sport can offer a practical example that peace and cooperation remain possible even during difficult times.
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, also highlighted the importance of Athletica Vaticana’s participation. He described the presence of the Vatican athletes as an important gesture of fraternity.
The Cardinal also pointed to the meaning of the Cross of the Athletes, describing it as a silent message that every human life deserves love and respect. The symbol connects the physical effort of athletes with a wider message about human dignity.
For Athletica Vaticana, participation in the Mediterranean Games is therefore about more than winning medals. The Vatican sports association has increasingly used sporting events as opportunities to promote inclusion, friendship and dialogue.
The Mediterranean Games will bring together athletes from different cultures and countries for nearly two weeks of competition. While the focus will naturally be on performance and sporting achievement, Pope Leo hopes the event will also demonstrate what can happen when people meet on equal terms.
For the Vatican, the Games offer a chance to show that sport can become a bridge between communities. Athletes who compete against one another can still share respect, friendship and a sense of common humanity.
As Taranto prepares for the arrival of thousands of competitors, Pope’s message places peace and fraternity alongside sporting excellence. The hope is that the Mediterranean Games will leave behind more than records and medals, offering a visible reminder that people from different nations can come together through a shared passion for sport.