Sports

The Latest

Public domain.

LA Dodgers host first-ever 'Catholic Night'

Sep 29, 2016

On Sept. 2, Dodger Stadium served as the center of a massive Venn diagram of local Catholics and lifelong fans... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square for the Italian Sporting Center's celebration of sports on June 7, 2014.

Pope Francis dedicates Olympic month to praying for sports

Aug 21, 2016

By Elise Harris

While Pope Francis has often spoken about sports as a means of fellowship and fraternity, the message has a special... Read more

The fascinating (and problematic) history of athletes doping

Aug 18, 2016

By Adelaide Mena

As the world's eyes are on Rio de Janeiro for last days of the 2016 Summer Olympics, the topic of... Read more

Katie Ledecky.

These two game-changing Olympians are serious Catholics

Aug 9, 2016

By Mary Farrow

Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky are two of the names to know in this year's summer Olympic games in Rio.  Read more

Sydney McLaughlin. Courtesy of Union Catholic High School.

Youngest US track Olympian relies on God when times get tough

Aug 5, 2016

Sydney McLaughlin has not had an easy year.  Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 7, 2015.

What Pope Francis has to say to this year's Olympic athletes

Aug 3, 2016

Just two days before the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pope Francis offered a... Read more

Mike Piazza.

At Baseball Hall of Fame, Mets star thankful for Catholic faith

Jul 29, 2016

Mike Piazza, the newest inductee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, has given a shout-out to Pope Benedict XVI... Read more

NBA 'unreasonable' in moving All Star game from North Carolina

Jul 22, 2016

The National Basketball Association’s decision to pull its all-star game from Charlotte, North Carolina over the state’s bathroom bill has... Read more

Sports. Public Domain.

Vatican event draws heavy hitters to discuss faith, sports

Jul 14, 2016

By Elise Harris

Alongside other global institutions such as the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee, German-based insurance carrier Allianz has partnered... Read more

Sean Bryan, the Papal Ninja. Photo

Meet the Papal Ninja who's taking a hit TV show by storm

Jun 8, 2016

Two minutes and thirty seconds is all it took for Sean Bryan to complete the Los Angeles qualifier round of... Read more

Muhammad Ali, 1966.Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 bekijk toegang 2.24.01.04 Bestanddeelnummer 924-3060, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, wikimedia.

How Muhammad Ali inspired hope in those who suffered

Jun 6, 2016

By Mary Farrow

On January 19, 1981, in Los Angeles, Muhammad Ali talked a man down from jumping off a ninth-floor fire escape,... Read more

An athlete competes at Rome's Special Olympics event on May 21, 2016.

No special treatment for these athletes, but 'a chance' to play

May 24, 2016

By Ann Schneible

Hundreds of athletes took to the fields in Rome over the weekend for the launch of this year's “Special Olympics... Read more

Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck. Photo

Pro-soccer player turned priest reunites with fans in Chile

May 17, 2016

With a Mass celebrated in the chapel where he used to pray, former soccer star Chase Hilgenbrinck was reunited recently... Read more

2016 NCAA Men's National Basketball Championship, Villanova vs. North Carolina.

Who's the chaplain behind college basketball's new champion?

Apr 10, 2016

By Matt Hadro

He had a courtside seat to a historic college basketball game, but Fr. Rob Hagan has actually witnessed many games... Read more

Basketball.

Evangelize through sports? One bishop and marathon veteran explains how

Nov 25, 2015

By Matt Hadro

For a veteran runner who’s completed 21 marathons, one bishop sees a deep connection between his Catholic faith and running,... Read more

Valeria Tkacik. Photo courtesy of Sports Up Today.

A triumph through remarkable trial - the story of one Catholic athlete

Oct 6, 2015

Remembering the words spoken by then-five year-old Valeria Tkacik still gives her mother, Anne, goose bumps.  Read more

Mountains.

Take a hike – and you just might find God, these trekkers say

Aug 12, 2015

Some people hike to compete, others to challenge themselves. But as the sport increases as a global trend, others have... Read more

2014 CONCACAF Champions League sponsored by FIFA.

'Is anyone surprised?' A Vatican response to the FIFA soccer scandal

Jun 2, 2015

Amid the new soccer corruption scandal that has rocked the sports world, a Vatican official has called for different sectors... Read more

Pope Francis with the Harlem Globetrotters at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, May 6, 2015.

Pope Francis to star athletes: Don't forget to go to Mass

May 7, 2015

By Elise Harris

On Thursday Pope Francis demonstrated his keen interest in uniting sports with faith, telling members of Italy's Lazio club not... Read more

Boys play soccer on a basketball court in Jerusalem.

For Holy Land youth, sports center to be ground for dialogue, peace

Dec 4, 2014

Franciscans in the Holy Land have launched a new project to bring together young people from different cultural and religious... Read more