Pope Francis imparted a valuable lesson that can be learned from the sport of tennis this morning during an audience at the Vatican with the Spanish delegation from the “Real Club de Tenis Barcelona,” celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
The Holy Father emphasized that tennis, in particular, “not being a team game but an individual or doubles game, presents an interesting facet for our reflection.”
“In tennis, just like in life, we cannot always win, but it will be an enriching struggle if, by playing with courtesy and according to the rules, we learn that it is not a battle but a dialogue that involves our effort and allows us to surpass ourselves,” he highlighted. In this context, the Pontiff asserted that sports should be seen not only as a competition but also as a dialogue, “which, in the case of tennis, often becomes artistic.”
He also pointed out that on the field of play, as in life, “sometimes we feel alone, other times supported by those who play this game of life with us.”
“But even when we play ‘singles,’ we are always in the presence of the Lord who teaches us what respect, understanding, and the need for constant communication with others mean,” he affirmed. He also stated that there is nothing more important than “human and spiritual development” and urged the members of this club to care for children, “those who can benefit from the values of sports in complex social environments and also those who could succeed in high-level competition.”
