Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured', until the day of Jesus Christ".

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 May no-one feel excluded from sport, says the Pope to the athletes of the
Special Olympics
 Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) - "The world of sport looks to the Church
with
trust and attention, as it is aware that together it is possible to work to
restore to sporting practice its true meaning: an educational, playful and
recreational meaning, and also its cultural and social dignity. You are well
aware of this, having chosen sport as an experience of development and growth,
in the presence of a condition of fragility and limitation", said the Pope as
he
received in audience 150 athletes participating in the Italian "Special
Olympics", and who will participate in the finals of the World Games in Los
Angeles this July. The "Special Olympics" is an international sporting
association founded in 1968 in the United States by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to
help those with different mental capabilities to develop confidence in
themselves and in their social capacities through training and competitive
sport. "It is beautiful and meaningful that young people and adults find in
sport and participation in competitions, including at an international level,
an
incentive to live their life fully. It is a challenge", emphasised Francis,
"and
you have accepted it and 'taken the field'. I encourage you to continue in your
efforts to help each other to discover your potential and to love life, to
appreciate it in all its limits and above all, its beautiful sides. Sport is a
path that is well-suited to this discovery, to opening oneself up, to coming
out
of oneself and getting involved. In this way one learns to participate, to
outdo
oneself, to strive together. All this helps you to become active members of
society and also of the Church; and it helps society itself and the Church to
overcome all forms of discrimination and exclusion".
 "Please", he continued, "be faithful to this ideal of sport. Do not let
yourself be contaminated by a false sporting culture, that of economic success,
victory at any cost, and individualism. Rather, it is necessary to rediscover
amateur sport, the sport of gratuity, sport for sport's sake. We must protect
and defend sport as an experience of human values: competition yes, but in
loyalty and solidarity. Dignity for every person: always! No-one must feel
excluded from sport. And the generous action and harmony between the various
institutional and social bodies is necessary to attain this objective".
 He concluded by wishing them a joyful and serene experience at the upcoming
World Championship, expressing his hope that they would enjoy themselves and
form friendships with brothers and sisters throughout the world and reminding
them to pray for him.

___________________________________________________________

 Christians and Muslims, together to counter violence perpetrated in the name
of
religion
 Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) - "Christians and Muslims: Together to
counter
violence perpetrated in the name of religion" is the title of the Message from
the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for Ramadan, which began
this
year on 18 June, and 'Id al-Fitr. The document, signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis
Tauran and Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.I., respectively president and
secretary of the dicastery, is dated 12 June.
 "For some of you and also for others from other religious communities, the joy
of the feast is shadowed by the memory of the dear ones who lost their life or
goods, or suffered physically, mentally and even spiritually because of
violence. Ethnic and religious communities in a number of countries of the
world
went through various and enormous unjust sufferings: killing of some of their
members, destruction of their religious and cultural heritages, forced
emigration from their homes and cities, molestation and rape of their women,
enslavement of some of their members, trafficking of persons, commerce of
organs, and even selling of cadavers!
 "We are all aware of the gravity of these crimes in themselves. However, what
makes them even more heinous is the tentative of justifying them in the name of
religion. It is a clear manifestation of instrumentalising religion for gaining
power and richness.
 "Needless to say that those who have the responsibility of security and public
order have also the duty to protect their people and their properties from the
blind violence of the terrorists. Besides, there is also the responsibility of
those who have the task of education: families, schools, curricula, religious
leaders, religious discourse, media. Violence and terrorism are first conceived
in the mind of the deviated persons, thereafter perpetrated on the ground.
 "All those are involved in the education of the youth and in the various
educational spaces should teach the sacred character of life and the derived
dignity of every person, regardless of his or her ethnicity, religion, culture,
social position and political choice. There is no life that is more precious
than another one because it belongs to a specific race or religion. Therefore,
no one can kill. No one can kill in the name of God; this would be a double
crime: against God and the very person.
 "There cannot be any ambiguity in education. The future of a person, community
and of the whole humanity cannot be built on such ambiguity or apparent truth.
Christians and Muslims, according to their respective religious tradition, look
at God and relate with Him as being the Truth. Our life and behaviour as
believers should reflect such conviction.
 "According to St. John Paul II, Christians and Muslims have 'the privilege of
prayer' (Address to Muslim Religious Leaders, Kaduna, Nigeria, 14 February
1982). Our prayer is much needed: for justice, for peace and security in the
world; for those who have deviated from the true path of life and commit
violence in the name of religion, so as to return to God and change life; for
the poor and the sick.
 "Our feasts, among others, nourish in us hope for the present and the future.
It is with hope that we look at the future of humanity, especially when we do
our best to make our legitimate dreams become a reality.
 "With Pope Francis, we wish that the fruits of Ramadan and the joy of ‘Id
al-Fitr may bring about peace and prosperity, enhancing your human and
spiritual
growth".

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in audience
Archbishop Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in the Syrian Arab Republic.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Cardinal
Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne, Germany, as his special envoy
to the inauguration of the recently-restored "conventual complex" of the Shrine
of Maria-Radna at Timisoara, Romania, to be held on 2 August 2015.

___________________________________________________________

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