Pope Leo XIV praises Special Olympics athletes, cites Frassati as model

Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation of Italian Special Olympics athletes at the Vatican on Sept. 19 to praise their participation in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin.

The pope told the athletes that sports possess great educational value by teaching noble and authentic values such as loyalty, trust, openness, team spirit, and courage. He encouraged the participants to live holy lives by following the example of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Pope Leo XIV described Frassati as a young sportsman who translated the values of sport into a good, generous, and holy life through his love for Jesus.