Vatican City, Feb 17, 2017 / 01:01 am
Pope Francis received a delegation from the Special Olympics on Thursday, reflecting on the power of the event to spread joy and hope.
The Pope suggested that joy is at the heart of all sports: "the joy of exercising, of being together, of being alive and rejoicing in the gifts the Creator gives us each day."
"Seeing the smile on your faces and the great happiness in your eyes when you have done well in an event – for the sweetest victory is when we surpass ourselves – we realize what true and well-deserved joy feels like!" the Pope said. "We can learn from you to enjoy small and simple pleasures, and to enjoy them together."
The Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place in the Austrian state of Styria in March.