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Pope Leo XIV took advantage of the eve of the start of the to publish a message on his official X account (@Pontifex_es) that combined current sports events with a call for solidarity and a rejection of individualism.
“Tomorrow the World Cup will begin, and many will be paying attention to the matches. Football reminds us of something we must not forget: life is not a race to stand out alone, but a journey we learn to walk together. Those who don’t know how to pass the ball, even if they have talent, still do not understand the game. And those who do not know how to live with others and for others, still do not understand life,” the Pontiff wrote on Wednesday from his verified profile.
The phrase did not originate on social media, but rather hours earlier at the parish Church of San Agustín in the popular neighborhood of Raval in Barcelona, during a meeting with the diocesan realities of charity and assistance of the archdiocese.
It was there that the Pope answered questions from Renzo, a six-year-old boy, and listened to testimonies from workers who assist poor families, immigrants, the homeless, drug addicts, and trafficking victims.
In that close and emotional context —"like at home," in his own words— León XIV made it clear that he personally prefers tennis: "Everyone knows that I now play tennis."
However, he recalled that as a young man he played American football with seminarians in Trujillo, Peru, playing as a defender, and he described it as "a little more violent."
The Pope stated that "sport is healthy for the mind, body, and soul," and serves to remind us "that life is not a race to be lived in solitude; it is something that is played as a team and is something we must learn."
The meeting in San Agustín also included reflections on other topics. Regarding the elderly, León XIV was emphatic: "Let us not allow loneliness and abandonment to become normalized in the lives of older adults. That is a very sad thing. Let us keep our hearts open to all of them."
Regarding forgiveness, he explained that "it doesn't mean saying that what was wrong was right, nor allowing someone to continue doing harm," but rather "not letting hatred take control of our hearts."
When asked by Renzo if he ever wanted to be Pope, the Pontiff replied candidly: "I did not want to be Pope, neither as a young man nor when I was older, but when the Lord calls, one must say yes."
Addressing the operators of social pastoral care, Leon XIV emphasized that "the Christian, in addition to being kind and friendly, must be compassionate, love selflessly, and seek the welfare of others, knowing that in every brother and sister who suffers, it is the Lord Himself who asks and receives, who is welcomed or rejected, loved or despised."
The message on X, published under the hashtag #ApostolicJourney in reference to his official visit to Spain, was from the first pope born in the United States speaking to the world on the eve of a tournament that began this Thursday with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams and will be held in three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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