Sprinters took over the main avenue leading to St Peter’s Square on October 20 in a relay race hailed by Pope Francis as a reminder of the spiritual values of sport.
The race came at the end of a week in which the Vatican announced the formation of its own cricket club and an Argentinian boxer gave the Pope a replica of his world championship belt.
For the October 20 event, organised by the Pontifical Council for Culture, an impromptu race track was set up along the Via della Conciliazione leading into St Peter’s Square.
Some 5000 participants took part in the three-hour event, including several high-profile athletes. Welcoming them, Pope Francis declared that “believers are spiritual athletes”.
Using imagery that St Paul described to the Corinthians, the pontifical council likened Christian life to a sort of ideal relay race in which faith is transmitted from generation to generation.
The following day the council held a seminar, focusing on the relationship between sport and faith.
The formation of the Vatican’s cricket club was promoted by the Australian ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy, a keen player and former member of the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust.
He expects the team will consist mainly of priests and seminarians from cricket-playing countries, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies.
He is also on the lookout for religious sisters from Sri Lanka, India or Pakistan who could form a women’s XI as well.
McCarthy also envisages ecumenical and interfaith opportunities — “there are many players here in Rome who would like to see, for instance, the Vatican play the Church of England….
“Cricket as a sport is something that covers many religions and ethnic groups…the Vatican could play the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs.”
The Argentinian boxer who met Pope Francis was middleweight world champion Sergio Martínez, who said beforehand “I will be asking the Pope for blessings and spiritual protection to all of those who enter the ring”.
It is believed Martínez also told the Pope about an anti-bullying campaign he has initiated.
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Image: eNCA