Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

We have just concluded the Eucharistic celebration for the Jubilee of Sport, and now I joyfully extend my greetings to all of you, athletes of various ages and backgrounds. I urge you to live sports, even at a competitive level, always with a spirit of generosity, with a “playful” spirit in the noble sense of the term, because in play and in healthy entertainment, human beings resemble their Creator.

I want to emphasize that sport is a path to building peace, because it is a school of respect and loyalty, fostering a culture of encounter and brotherhood. Sisters and brothers, I encourage you to practice this sport consciously, opposing all forms of violence and oppression.

Today’s world needs it so much! Indeed, there are many armed conflicts. In Myanmar, despite the ceasefire, fighting continues, even with damage to civilian infrastructure. I urge all parties to embark on the path of inclusive dialogue, the only way to lead to a peaceful and stable solution.

On the night of June 13-14, in the town of Yelwata, in the Gouma Local Administrative Area of ​​Benue State, Nigeria, a terrible massacre occurred in which some 200 people were murdered with extreme cruelty, most of them internally displaced persons hosted by the local Catholic mission. I pray that security, justice, and peace may prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so afflicted by various forms of violence. And I pray especially for the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who are relentlessly victims of violence.

I also think of the Republic of Sudan, devastated by violence for more than two years. I have received the sad news of the death of Father Luke Jumu, parish priest of El Fasher, the victim of a bombing. While I assure you of my prayers for him and for all the victims, I renew my appeal to the combatants to stop, protect civilians, and engage in dialogue for peace. I urge the international community to intensify its efforts to provide at least essential assistance to the population, gravely affected by the humanitarian crisis.

We continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and around the world.

This afternoon, in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Floribert Bwana Chui, a young Congolese martyr, will be beatified. He was killed at the age of twenty-six because, as a Christian, he opposed injustice and defended the little ones and the poor. May his witness give courage and hope to the young people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout Africa!

Happy Sunday, everyone! And to you young people, I say: I’ll see you in a month for the Jubilee of Youth! May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for us.

Angelus Domini…