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                             Vatican Information Service.   
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                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   SPORT, A SCHOOL OF HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN VALUES   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 15 NOV 2010 (VIS) - At midday today the Pope received a group of   
   Italian ski instructors accompanied by Franco Frattini, minister for Foreign   
   Affairs whom he thanked for his efforts to ensure that many Catholics, injured   
   in recent attacks in Iraq, have been brought to Italy to receive medical   
   attention.   
      
   On the subject of sport the Holy Father affirmed that, "if practiced   
   passionately and ethically, apart from fomenting a healthy spirit of   
   competition, it becomes a school in which to learn and develop human and   
   Christian values. ... Through sporting activity people gain a better   
   understanding that the body cannot be considered as an object but that, though   
   corporeity, it expresses itself and comes into relation with others. Thus, a   
   balance between the physical and the spiritual dimensions ensures we do not   
   idolise the body but respect it; not making it an instrument to be improved at   
   all costs, perhaps even using illicit means".   
      
   Skiing in the mountains, "contemplating creation, man recognises the greatness   
   of God, the ultimate source of his own being and of the universe", said the   
   Pope. "It must not be forgotten that the relationship with creation represents   
   an important element in the development of human identity, and not even man's   
   sin eliminated his duty to be the custodian of the world. Sporting activity can   
   also be considered and lived as part of this responsibility. Scientific and   
   technological progress give man the possibility to intervene and manipulate   
   nature, but the ever-present risk is that of wishing to replace the Creator and   
   reduce creation almost to the status of a product to be used and consumed.   
      
   "What", the Holy Father added, "is the right attitude to take? Certainly, it is   
   that of a feeling of profound gratitude and recognition, but also of   
   responsibility to conserve and cultivate the work of God. Sporting activity   
   helps to achieve this goal, by influencing lifestyle which is thus oriented   
   towards balance, self-discipline and respect. For you in particular, the   
   contact with nature is a reason to cultivate a profound love towards God's   
   creation".   
      
   Benedict XVI expressed the view that the role of ski instructors "is important   
   both for healthy sports training and for education in environmental respect. It   
   is, then, a task not to be carried out in isolation but in understanding with   
   families, especially when your pupils are children, and in collaboration with   
   schools and other educational institutions. Another important aspect is your   
   witness as lay faithful who, in the context of sporting activities, can give a   
   correct focus to certain fundamental moments for the life of the faith,   
   especially the sanctification of Sunday, the day of the Lord".   
   AC/VIS 20101115 (450)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)