Nelson Todt with Pope Francis, 2022

The world is in mourning for the death of Pope Francis. The members of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee (IPCC) join all those who pay tribute to this extraordinary man who, until his last breath, tried to make the world a better place and who, for the last time, uttered his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and to the world).

Pope Francis has had an interest in the values of sport and has had the help and support of some of our committee members. Our former president, Norbert Müller, helped the Vatican write ‘Giving the Best of Yourself’ (pictured) in 2018, highlighting the parallel between the core values of sport and faith.

Several IPCC members attended the summit which was organized by the Vatican and entitled Sport for All: Cohesive, accessible and tailored to each person. All attendees signed the summit Declaration which is an invitation to concrete actions in all societies:  The declaration | sport for all (vaticansummitsportforall.com). 

Pope Francis gave his support to the summit and pronounced a speech praising the noble goals that sport inspires in people of all ages To the Participants in the International Summit: “Sport for all. Cohesive, Accessible and Tailored to each Person” (30 September 2022) | Francis (vatican.va)

IPCC Vice-President, Nelson Todt, and IPCC member Gilles Lecocq were members of the working group that elaborated this Declaration. IPCC members Kostas Georgiadis, Marion Keim and Tomás Bolaño were also present at the summit.