Pope Francis' message for Rio Olympics: 'fight the good fight'

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis delivered his message for the upcomingOlympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, urging Brazilians to work for a more just and safe country, Vatican Radio reported.

With the Olympic Games 2016 getting underway in Rio Saturday, August 6th, Pope Francis told all those involved to ‘fight the good fight’ and complete the race together.

“In a world thirsting for peace, tolerance, and reconciliation, I hope that the spirit of the Olympic Games inspires all – participants and spectators – to“fight the good fight” and finish the race together (cf. 2 Tim 4,7-8), desiring to obtain as a prize, not a medal, but something much more precious: the construction of a civilization in which solidarity reigns and is based upon the recognition that we are all members of the same human family, regardless of the differences of culture, skin color, or religion”, Pope Francis said.

The Holy Father also expressed his desire that all Brazilians, “who with their joy and characteristic hospitality have organized the ‘Feast of Sport’, … that this will be an opportunity to overcome difficult moments and commit themselves to working as a team to build a more just and safe country, betting all on a future full of hope and joy."