Faith, Peace, and the Power of Sport: Jubilee Sport Conference 2025 at the Vatican.

admin1 News, Press Release 18th June 202518th June 2025olympics, peace, sport, vatican

I write with heartfelt gratitude following the extraordinary privilege of attending the Jubilee of Sport Conference 2025 at the Vatican. It was a sacred honour to be present for such a meaningful and insightful gathering, and I extend my sincere congratulations to our hosts at the Vatican for a conference marked by profound wisdom, warmth, and gracious hospitality.

His Holiness Pope Leo’s address was deeply moving and spiritually enriching. His words illuminated the divine potential of sport as a powerful instrument for the betterment of individual lives and the healing of communities. Bishop-elect Christopher Hughes and I were especially inspired by his emphasis on sport as a potential means of social transformation, peace-building, and international solidarity. These principles echo the heart of the Gospel and the call to love and serve one another.

We were further encouraged by the opportunity to meet with Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, and to explore future initiatives together. It was also a great honour to be invited by Professor Keim, UNESCO Chair for Sport, Development, Peace, and Olympic Education, to affirm our support for the Paris 2024 Declaration on Olympic Education, Olympic Values, and Sport for Development and Peace.

Paris 2024 Declaration on Olympic Education, Olympic Values and Sport, Development and Peace (SDP)

The Paris 2024 Declaration on Olympic Education, Olympic Values, and Sport, Development and Peace (SDP) is a global call to action led by the National Pierre de Coubertin Committees of South Africa and France, the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, and the UNESCO Chair for Sport, Development, Peace and Olympic Education.

This declaration highlights the power of sport as a transformative force for peace, education, and sustainable development. It emphasizes values rooted in Olympism and the Paralympic spirit, calling for:

Stronger global partnerships across governments, civil society, sport organizations, and educational institutions.
Broader engagement of youth from early childhood to university level in sport and peace-building initiatives.
The promotion of inner peace, inclusion, health, and well-being through sport in urban and community spaces.
Greater recognition of sports’ role in conflict mediation, cultural exchange, and as a tool to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Importantly, the Declaration urges continued investment in Olympic education, research, and cross-cultural collaboration, with a clear focus on integrating perspectives from both the Global South and North.

Sports Chaplaincy Conference in Vatican City

admin1 Article, News 22nd May 202425th May 2024rome, sport chaplaincy, vatican

Archbishop Steven and Reverend Christopher Hughes were invited to Vatican City for the Sports Chaplaincy Conference. The conference gave some tremendous insights and testimonies regarding the importance of sports for modern life. We heard how the Apostle Paul cited sports repeatedly within the New Testament to convey spiritual ideas. The conference allowed for the exchange of ideas with other delegates including His Eminence Cardinal José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça who represented Pope Francis at the initial session.

On one of the evenings they attended a reception hosted by the French Embassy in Rome and enjoyed an especially interesting conversation with Cardinal Bernard Planche from Paris. Archbishop Steven remembered his colleague Bishop Tony Palmer who was a close friend of Pope Francis and shared Archbishop Steven’s Convergency Movement mindset. He went on to further recall how Pope Francis addressed the Kenneth Copeland conference via video in 2014 and Bishop Tony’s comment that “Diversity is Divine but division is diabolic.”

Archbishop Steven and Reverend Christopher joked with Reverend Massimiliano Gabbricci the Chaplain of the Italian National Football team remembering the English defeat at Wembley and Italian supporters singing “It’s Coming Rome, It’s Coming Rome, It’s Coming, Football’s Coming Rome!” Reverend Gabbricci shared about how despite the money and the fame players have the usual human needs and vulnerabilities, the work of insightful chaplains is enormously important. He also shared with deep emotion about how his dear friend Gianluca Vialli was so kind to so many people even though he was dying. It was a testimony to the reality of Christ in his life and it continues to inspire those who knew him.

Reverend Christopher was delighted to meet with his old friend James Parker at the conference. James had travelled from Australia and he currently ministers within The John Paul II Foundation for Sport (JP2F4S) which was launched by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Britain in 2010. The organisation is inspired by John Paul II’s vision for sport, which has as its primary focus the building of spiritual character through excellence in sporting skills and fitness. Isn’t it wonderful to recognise that in everything spiritual character can be developed, we thank God for the wisdom to see this great insight.

Archbishop Steven observed that the Vatican’s spectacular art and architecture point to humanity being designed by their creator God. He commented that, “God made us in His image, so our passion for creating beautiful things points to us having our Heavenly Father’s genes. There is an innate desire within mankind to create and be creative, it comes from God.”