Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians and people of goodwill to embrace teamwork, compassion and selfless love, using the start of the FIFA World Cup as an opportunity to reflect on values that unite humanity.
In a series of messages shared on social media on Wednesday, the Pontiff said football offers important lessons about cooperation and the need to put the interests of others ahead of personal glory.
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With the World Cup set to begin, Pope Leo XIV noted that the game reminds people that life is not meant to be lived in isolation or as a competition for individual recognition.
“The World Cup begins tomorrow, and many will watch the matches. Soccer reminds us of something we must not forget: life is not a race to show off on our own, but a path we learn to walk together,” he wrote.
The Pope stressed that true success, both on and off the pitch, depends on the ability to work with others.
“Anyone who does not know how to pass the ball, even if they have talent, has not yet understood the game. Anyone who does not know how to live with and for others has not yet understood life,” he added.
In another message, the Pontiff extended the reflection to the Christian obligation to care for those in need, urging believers to go beyond kindness and gentleness by showing genuine compassion and selfless love.
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“In addition to being kind and gentle, Christians must be compassionate, love selflessly, and seek the good of others, knowing that in every brother and sister who suffers it is the Lord Himself who asks and receives, who is welcomed or rejected, loved, or despised,” he said.
His remarks come as football fans across the globe prepare to follow the month-long competition, one of the most watched sporting events in the world.
The message has drawn attention for linking the spirit of football with broader lessons about community, solidarity and the need for people to support one another in everyday life.
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