On the afternoon of Tuesday 17 March, the Sala Marco in Palazzo Pio provided the setting for a discussion on sport between CardinalJosé Tolentino de Mendonça and Olympic champion Francesca Lollobrigida – organised by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Athletica Vaticana and the Dicastery for Communication. It was also streamed live on the Dicastery’s YouTube channel and Vatican News, and broadcast live on Vatican Radio.

The event started with a Rai Sport video of the champion Francesca Lollobrigida while winning her gold medal at the Olympics, followed by the introduction of the speakers by Dr Alessandro Gisotti, acting as moderator.

Following a brief introduction to the letter Life in Abundance, an in-depth reflection on the role of sport in human growth and the development of peace was the focus of the dialogue between the speakers.

The meeting concluded with a speech by the president of Athletica Vaticana, Giampaolo Mattei, on the Coppa degli Ultimi, which next Sunday, at the end of the Rome Marathon, will be awarded to a person or an organisation that bears witness to the experience of hope and rebirth through sport.

At the end of the event, before proceeding with the interviews, the Olympic champion was presented with an Athletica Vaticana jersey and kindly posed for photos with those present in the hall, including many children.