Pope Leo XIV has called on athletes participating in the upcoming 20th Mediterranean Games to make the event a visible symbol of unity, describing sport as a potential “prophecy of peace and fraternity.” Speaking during his Sunday Angelus address ahead of the competition—set to take place in Taranto, Italy, from August 21 to September 3—the Pontiff expressed his hope that the games would foster genuine encounter among diverse nations across the region and beyond.
The multisport event will bring together approximately 4,000 athletes from 26 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, competing in 33 different disciplines. Representing the Vatican, four members from Athletica Vaticana are scheduled to compete, including Fabrizio Peloni and Tiziano Lucarelli in men’s padel doubles, Daniele Fontana in épée fencing, and Emiliano Morbidelli in cycling. Vatican leaders, including Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, noted that the presence of the Holy See’s sports association serves as a meaningful gesture of solidarity and shared human fraternity.
To mark the start of the Games, Archbishop Ciro Miniero of Taranto will celebrate a opening Mass at the city’s cathedral alongside Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, to welcome the “Cross of the Athletes.” The Cross, which has accompanied international athletic events since the 2012 London Olympics, will remain in the cathedral throughout the competition as a spiritual reference point. Reflecting on the event’s broader impact, Archbishop Miniero highlighted that sport provides a crucial opportunity to bridge social divides, demonstrating that peaceful coexistence is possible even among athletes originating from opposing or divided regions.