Regarding the Olympics:

The Olympic Games, held this year in London, are the greatest sports event in the world, drawing athletes from the myriad nations of the world to one city. The games are an important school to educate participants and spectators in important values, including self-sacrifice and respect for one's adversaries. They provide an opportunity to overcome the logic of individualism and selfishness, which often characterize human relations, in order to make room for the logic of brotherhood and love, the only things that can lead to promoting the common good on every level.

The games have important symbolic value, and for that reason they should be looked upon with special fondness and attention. In the spirit of the "Olympic truce" the international sporting event provides an opportunity to promote peace and reconciliation throughout the world. The Olympic truce tradition, originating in eighth-century B.C. Greece, asked that all wars and conflict be suspended before and during the games as a way make sure participants could travel to and from the venue safely. Let us pray that all nations will respect this truce and learn to live together in complete love and harmony.