Pope Calls for Peace at Paris Olympics; Wounded Journalist Bears the Flame

In his Sunday address on July 21, Pope Francis called for a global truce during the upcoming Paris Olympics. Speaking to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, he urged athletes to be ambassadors of peace and role models for youth.

“The Olympics,” the Pope said, “should be a time to halt wars and showcase a genuine desire for peace.” His words come as conflicts rage in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar, reminding us all that “war is a defeat.”

The Paris Olympics, set to start on July 27, will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on the River Seine. The event will feature around 10,500 athletes and more than 100 world leaders. The Pope's message echoes the sentiments of the G7 leaders, who unanimously called for a global truce during the Games last month in Italy.

Amidst this backdrop, the Olympic Torch is making its journey through France. Recently, it was carried by Christina Assi, a journalist wounded in Israeli shellfire while reporting in Lebanon. The same attack claimed the life of Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah and injured six others. Assi dedicated her part of the relay to her fallen colleagues, carrying the flame with a poignant mix of pain and resolve.

As the world looks to Paris, the Pope’s call for peace and the symbolic torch relay remind us of the power of unity and the hope for a world where the spirit of the Games transcends the conflicts that divide us.