A new book with the title “Sport in the Vatican” by Stefano and Roberto Calvigioni
was presented on Monday at the offices of Vatican Radio. The book looks at the attention
the Church has taken to sport, and what role it plays in the life and formation of
people. “Pope John Paul II…would almost deem sport as a sign of the times,” says
Fr. Kevin Lixey, LC, the director of the Church and Sport office at the Pontifical
Council for the Laity, which was established by the late Pope.
He spoke at
the event presenting the book. He said Pope John Paul II had a strong view on sport
in society. “It is something we need as the Church to be concerned with – to help
enlighten it, to be a part of it, not to run from it,” he told Vatican Radio. The
office of Church and Sport looks at intellectual issues, such as what is sport, and
how does it effect society. At the same time, it meets with top level athletes, and
learns what special challenges they face in their spiritual life.
“If you look
at an athlete who is taken from their home environment at an early age and set on
a professional track, maybe away from their family, and then given a chance of success
where they are thrown a bunch of money and a bunch of fame, and then told to do what
is right – a professional athlete has many challenges,” he pointed out.
Listen
to the full interview by Charles Collins with Father Kevin Lixey: