Pope Leo XIV used the opportunity, on the occasion of the celebration of the XXV Winter Olympic Games, held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from 6 to 22 February, and of the XIV Paralympic Games, held in the same place from 6 to 15 March, to offer us more insights into the value of sports.

He highlighted and elaborated on some aspects of sport, such as:

§  Sport and building peace.

§  The formative value of sport.

§  Sport, a school of life and contemporary forum.

§  Sport and personal development.

§  Risks that threaten sporting values.

§  Competition and the culture of encounter.

§  Sport, relationships, and discernment.

§  A pastoral approach to sport for life in abundance.

The Pope states that all this finds its ultimate meaning in the biblical promise that gives this apostolic letter its title: "Life in Abundance." This is not an accumulation of successes or performances but a fulness of life that integrates our bodies, relationships, and interior lives. In cultural terms, life in abundance invites us to liberate sport from reductive mentalities that would transform it into a mere spectacle or product. In pastoral terms, it urges the church to be present and to offer accompaniment, discernment, and hope. In this way, sport can truly become a school of life, where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost but from sharing, from respecting others, and from the joy of walking together.