Vatican City, Aug 11, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Pope John Paul II issued a telegram today to Constantinos Stephanopoulos, president of Greece, on the occasion of the 28th summer Olympic Games, which will open in Athens this week.
“In the spirit of truce, linked to the Olympic Games,” said the Pope, “I wish that these games are an occasion for fraternity among peoples and cultures, because sport is a universal language, which develops a spirit of family and which allows us to go beyond the violence that marks our current world.
“I invoke upon you divine benedictions, as well as upon the Greek nation,… the organizers, the athletes, the spectators present and on those who will watch or listen to the various sporting events through different means of communications,” he wrote. “To all, I give my fervent greetings.”