The Holy Father’s apostolic journey continues; on Wednesday 10 June, he met with charitable and welfare organisations from the archdiocese at the parish of Sant’Agostino in Barcelona: there, he had the opportunity to answer some questions that Renzo, a six-year-old boy, had written in a letter. The first of these concerned sport, a subject dear to Pope Leo XIV, who conveyed to little Renzo a message of sharing, altruism and generosity:

A little sport is good for everyone. We need to find ways to preserve our health in body, mind and soul. 

Life is not a race to shine on our own. It is something that is played as a team.

Someone may be a star, but if he never passes the ball, he does not allow others to enter the game, and he will probably lose.

Thus, referring to Renzo's question about football, although he admitted that tennis remains his preferred sport, Pope Leo spoke fondly of his years in Peru, where he followed local football teams and even played with seminarians. And with the World Cup set to begin the following day, the Pope used football as an image for life itself, observing that even the most talented player ultimately fails if he refuses to involve others.

READ THE FULL ADDRESS OF POPE LEO TO THE DIOCESAN CHARITY AND WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS

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• VATICAN NEWS - Pope to Barcelona charity workers: Life Is a path we walk together | Linda Bordoni