Yes, yes, I swear, the Olympics are an “opportunity for unity” for France, says the Pope – Libération

2024-07-19 17:01:13

In his wishes to the Archbishop of Paris published on Friday, July 19, Pope Francis affirmed that the Olympic Games “by nature bring peace”, and asked that those in Paris let it possible to “reinforce the unity of the nation” France.

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We do not know (less and less) which government will govern during the Paris Olympics which begin on July 26. But, in the midst of the democratic crisis, this is the time that the Pope chose to launch an appeal with political comments of it is strong. Speaking this Friday in a message to the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, a week before the opening ceremony of the Games on the Seine, Pope Francis introduced “Hope that the organization of these Games will be for all the people of France a great opportunity for brotherhood that allows, beyond differences and opposition, to strengthen the unity of the country”.

In his wishes, the Bishop of Rome ruled that the Olympic Games “By nature the bringer of peace, not war” and he reminds that “Antiquity has, wisely, established an agreement during the Games”, a “Happiness” what “modern times are actively trying to take control.” The Argentine Pontiff also added that“In this time of crisis when the peace of the world is in great danger, I sincerely hope that everyone will be eager to respect this conflict in the hope of resolving conflicts and returning to unity.”

Breeding of pigeons

This call from the Pope is almost akin to a call for a ceasefire to the National Assembly. Since the second round of early legislative elections, the French parliament is still closed – unique under the Fifth Republic – in the division into three blocs, there is no clear majority government, while the far right has 143 seats in the hemicycle. On Thursday, the election of the Macronist Yaël Braun-Pivet as president of the conference did not ease the violent tensions between the delegates.

This Friday morning, the traditional Parisian ceremony of the Olympic retreat took place in the church of La Madeleine, in the presence of the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, and from the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. About a thousand people gathered. Presided over by the Archbishop of Paris, the ceremony was punctuated by the reading of the Pope’s homily. It ends with the release of five doves, symbols of peace, on the square in front of La Madeleine. – five as the number of Olympic rings. “It’s very moving”, answered Thomas Bach, himself a Catholic, judge that “Olympic values ​​are the same as Catholic values”.