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This morning, at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, received in audience the leaders of the Italian Swimming Federation and the participants in the International Swimming Championships (the 62nd Sette Colli Trophy).

The following is the greeting that the Pope addressed to those present during the meeting:

[ EN -  ES   -  IT  ]

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

It is with joy that I meet all of you, leaders of the Italian Swimming Federation, athletes, and members of the delegations participating in the International Swimming Competition – the 62nd Sette Colli Trophy.

Sport is a medicine for both body and spirit, when it is practiced well. It integrates the different dimensions of the human person and directs them toward very important values such as commitment, solidarity, and honesty. In sporting activities, especially at the competitive level, human beings exercise their willpower, but they do so to the extent that they are motivated. And here the quality of an athlete becomes evident: it is revealed by the quality of his or her motivations.

Sport is also an opportunity for spiritual growth. Swimming, in this regard, has something special about it. Indeed, we practise it while being immersed in an element - water - that surrounds us. This symbolically recalls an aspect that has been part of us since our mother's womb: to live means learning to move in harmony with others and with the environment around us. For us Christians, moreover, water is a symbol of Baptism and of new life in Christ.

There is, however, another reason why I am glad of your presence. All of you, coming from different countries, have gathered here, inspired by the same passion and the same values, beyond every difference of language, nationality, and culture. This reality, typical of international sporting events, offers a sign of hope, a sign of the world we desire; it contributes to peaceful encounters among peoples and to fraternity.

Therefore, I encourage you to continue practicing and spreading the values of sport. The years of athletic competition pass, but those values remain! I entrust you to the intercession of Pier Giorgio Frassati - a young sportsman who loved the mountains dearly - and with all my heart I bless all of you and your loved ones. Thank you!

This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience:

- His Eminence Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

- His Eminence Carlos Aguiar Retes, Metropolitan Archbishop of Mexico City (Mexico)

- Members of the Presidency of the Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe (CCEE)

- His Most Eminent Highness Fra' John Timothy Dunlap, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and entourage

- Members of the Presidency of the French Bishops' Conference

- H.E. Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas, Titular Archbishop of Martana and Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine

***

The Holy Father receives today, in audience:

- Members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities

- Members of the Italian Swimming Federation

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Activities of the Holy Father in the afternoon:

- Meeting at the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops

- Bishops of Bangladesh on their "ad Limina Apostolorum" visit

This morning, at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, received in audience the Presidents of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in North America.

The following is the address that the Pope delivered to those present during the meeting:

[  EN  ]

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am pleased to welcome all of you here this morning, Presidents and representatives from the Jesuit Colleges and Universities of North America, and I thank you for your presence. I trust that your visit to Rome and to the Vatican will serve to strengthen your bonds both with the Successor of Peter as well as with the leadership of the Society of Jesus, which has been involved in the field of education for centuries.

While we can look to the past with gratitude for all that has been accomplished in the history of each of your educational institutions, we are also well aware of the multitude of challenges facing humanity today. Indeed, our time has called an age of epochal change. Societies are becoming even more secularized, with many seeking to push any mention of God out of the public sphere and beyond popular culture. Political systems frequently do not respond to the cry of the poor, migrants and those whom the world considers to be outcasts. Often times young people are left without hope in a world that seems to lack the promise of a better future, and the natural environment continues to be degraded by those who would use the planet’s resources for their own interests instead of for the common good. Our world is also increasingly aware of the growing impact of artificial intelligence, and the wider-ranging effects it can have on humanity.

In this regard, the Society of Jesus’ four Universal Apostolic Preferences, which were confirmed by my predecessor in 2019, propose paths that might help to address these challenges at the level of higher education. I would like to reflect on these four Preferences with you. The first of these, showing the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment, naturally complements your scholarly endeavors. Those who conduct research, those who pursue studies and those who seek the truth are ultimately seeking God, whether they realize it or not (cf.  Pastoral Visit to Sapienza University in Rome , 14 May 2026). It is therefore essential to provide ways for members of your academic communities to come to know the One who is Truth. Indeed, in our own time, as I recently observed in the recent visit to Spain, “many young people and adults are rediscovering the Christian faith, sometimes after having drifted away from God over a period of time” ( Prayer Vigil ,  9 June 2026). Given this palpable and growing hunger for God among the youth, I would therefore encourage you to continue to make available opportunities for participation in the Exercises on your campuses. In this way, members of your academic communities may be able to have a personal encounter with our Lord and freely seek to serve him in their daily lives. Likewise, the principles of the Exercises regarding discernment can be helpful tools for you to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in your daily decision-making. 

The second preference of the Society, to walk with the poor and the outcasts of the world, is particularly important in a time when record numbers of our brothers and sisters are living in poverty. Many are ultimately forced to leave their homes for various reasons, such as war, religious or political persecution, hunger and the effects of climate change. Your institutions are called not only to teach your students about the injustices faced by those on the margins of society, but also to be powerful channels in promoting systemic change through proposing new models rooted in solidarity and the common good (cf.  Address to the Major Superiors of the Society of Jesus , 24 October 2025). It is likewise important to offer opportunities for immigrants, refugees and those of a lower socioeconomic status to have the benefit of an advanced education. In this way, they will be able to integrate more fully into the societies in which they live as well as enrich the wider student bodies with their diverse experiences and perspectives. 

Your colleges and universities are likewise natural places for accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future, which is the third preference. Students normally begin their academic careers full of idealism and energy, often seeking to serve the needs of others. The studies that take place on your campuses, the friendships that naturally blossom there and the opportunity for all in your academic communities to encounter the thought and research of great scholars, both past and present, can bring a sense of hope and the promise of what could change for the better. (cf .  Address to Professors and Students, Sapienza University   14 May 2026). I invite you to continue to foster that sense of hope among those in your communities through opportunities for dialogue, service and prayer, remembering always that the resurrection of Christ is the ultimate source of hope (cf.  1 Pet  1:3), and that with him all things are possible (cf.  Mt  19:26). 

The fourth preference speaks to another urgent duty, namely working together in the care of creation. This is a task that is particularly important given the realities we are experiencing daily of the effects of climate change, as well as the exploitation of resources by a few at the expense of the common good. In this regard, I encourage you to persevere with your efforts to educate those on your campuses regarding these current dangers, but also to “let your communities be examples of ecological sustainability, simplicity and gratitude for God’s gifts” ( Address to the Major Superiors of the Society of Jesus , 24 October 2025). In this way, your institutions will be able to instruct by example, and not solely in theory.

Finally, our time is one that is becoming increasingly impacted by artificial intelligence, with which other “new technologies open up a horizon extending in directions that are imaginable but not yet fully predictable” (Encyclical Letter  Magnifica Humanitas , 15 May 2026, 4). It is important to begin now to address the consequences, both positive and negative, that come from these advances. Colleges and universities have a special role to play in this regard, especially through giving fresh impetus to the principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine “in a way that will be relevant and effective in addressing the digital revolution” ( ibid. , no. 47).

My dear friends, with these thoughts I express gratitude for all that you do in your important educational endeavors. With the help of the prayers of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, may you continue the Jesuit tradition of forming those entrusted to your care to be “men and women for others.” I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing to each of you, which I willingly extend to your loved ones and to the communities of the institutions that you represent. Thank you.

On the occasion of Sea Sunday, which falls on 12 July 2026, the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development sends a Message entitled  “Beyond goods and trade: the human face of the sea” , recalling the work carried out by seafarers throughout the world.

The following is the text of the Message, signed by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny:

Sea Sunday Message 2026

July 12, 2026

Beyond Cargo and Commerce:   The Human Face of the Sea

Dear brothers and sisters,

The life of the world continues to pass through the seas, rivers, lakes, and waterways of the world. Behind global trade, fishing industries, ports, inland navigation routes, and maritime networks are countless seafarers, fishers, port workers, and maritime communities whose labor sustains nations, connects peoples, brings livelihood, and supports families across continents. The crisis of the Strait of Hormuz has reminded the world of how deeply humanity depends on the sea and those who work upon it.

Much of what societies rely upon each day arrives quietly through perseverance, sacrifice, skill, and endurance of the people of the sea. On Sea Sunday, the Church remembers these men and women not merely for the work they perform or the goods they transport, but as human persons created in the image and likeness of God and endowed with inviolable dignity. Each carries a unique story shaped by hope and fears, burdens and resilience, relationships and dreams that deserve to be seen, honored, and cherished.

Today, many maritime workers continue to face growing uncertainty and hardship. The sea, which has long connected peoples and nations, is increasingly marked by tension, insecurity, war, and fear. Many crew members not only navigate the inherent dangers of the sea and waterways but have also recently been affected by armed conflicts that have resulted in their virtual confinement on board, food shortages, and even fear for their lives. This has heightened their sense of loneliness, their isolation from society at large, their separation from loved ones, and their emotional exhaustion.

Paradoxically, even in an age of greater digital communication, many seafarers experience deeper isolation. Human closeness is becoming rarer. Reduced crew size, shorter shore leaves, demanding schedules, and the constant pressure of modern maritime life often leave little space for rest, fraternity, or genuine human encounters. In such realities, people need more than efficient systems or distant words. They need a presence. They need to know that they are remembered, welcomed, heard, and loved.

As Pope Leo XIV reminds us in his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, technological and economic systems must never reduce the human person to “data, a cog in a machine or a commodity” (n.180). Rather, they must always safeguard the dignity, freedom, and humanity of every individual. A ship, therefore, must never become a place of silent isolation or indifference, a modern Babel where people live side by side yet remain unseen and unheard. Instead, maritime life can stand as a living witness that people of diverse nations, cultures, and beliefs are still capable of fraternity, solidarity, mutual respect, and peaceful interdependence.

In many ways, the sea itself teaches humanity that we belong to one another. Oceans do not divide people; they connect them. Each day, those who work across seas and waterways become bridges between nations, cultures, religions, and economies. In a world wounded by conflict and fragmentation, their lives bear witness to the enduring possibility of cooperation, solidarity, and peaceful coexistence. Through her pastoral presence, the Church seeks to remind every seafarer, fisher, and maritime worker that they are never forgotten and never alone.

At the same time, the sea calls humanity to deeper reflection. The oceans are not merely routes of commerce or sources of economic wealth; they are part of God’s creation, entrusted to human responsibility and care. They nourish populations, sustain livelihoods, and remind us of both the beauty and fragility of our common home. Yet today, the seas increasingly suffer from pollution, exploitation, environmental degradation, and the consequences of irresponsible human activity. When the oceans suffer, humanity suffers with them - especially fishers, coastal communities, and all those whose lives depend directly on the health of marine ecosystems. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us in Magnifica Humanitas, authentic progress can never be measured solely by efficiency, technological advancement, or profit, but must always be guided by the dignity of the human person, the common good, and responsibility toward future generations (nn. 12, 92). These words speak powerfully to the maritime and inland navigation world, where many seafarers, fishers, and maritime workers quietly endure loneliness, fatigue, danger, and prolonged separation from their families and usual places of worship while faithfully carrying out the essential work that sustains countless lives and communities across the globe. In this context, care for the sea can never be separated from care for the human person. Protecting marine life, promoting ethical and sustainable practices, defending the dignity and safety of maritime workers, and fostering a spirit of global responsibility are not competing priorities but dimensions of a single moral commitment to the common good and to the flourishing of both people and our shared marine environment.

This commitment is rooted in the Gospel itself, which offers an image that continue to speak powerfully to the maritime world today. Amid the storm, while fear overtook the disciples and the waves threatened the boat, Jesus remained with them: “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Christ did not remain safely on the shore. He entered the vulnerability of those crossing troubled waters. Even today, the Lord accompanies all who live and work at sea, walking beside those who face uncertainty, fatigue, danger and separation from families.

Because the Church is called to continue Christ’s mission in the world, She too cannot remain distant from the lived experience of maritime workers. The Lord who entered the boat with his disciples continues to draw near to those who navigate the seas and inland waterways of our time, and the Church is called to make that closeness visible through her presence and ministry. She is called to enter the boat: to accompany, to listen, to console, to defend human dignity, and to become a visible sign of hope and home amid the storms of human life. Through chaplaincies, maritime ministries, and a humble human presence rooted in the long tradition of the Apostleship of the Sea (Opus Apostolatus Maris), locally known in many places under names such as Stella Maris, the Church seeks to remind every seafarer, fisher, maritime worker, and inland navigation worker that they are remembered, valued, and never alone. Within this broad mission of service and accompaniment, our Catholic port chaplaincies throughout the world welcome men and women of all nationalities and creeds. At the same time, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to provide prayer, pastoral care and the sacraments to Catholic seafarers, who constitute a significant portion of the crews and officers arriving in ports far from their homes, families, and usual places of worship.

I express deep gratitude to all seafarers, fishers, and maritime workers and their families throughout the world. I thank you not only for what you do but for who you are. Your sacrifices sustain global trade, food security, and the well-being of countless communities. I also express my heartfelt gratitude to chaplains, volunteers, maritime welfare organizations, and pastoral workers who faithfully continue to bring friendship, prayer, listening and practical support to ports and ships around the world. May this Sea Sunday renew in all of us a deeper commitment to closeness, solidarity, care for creation and care for all the people of the sea and inland waterways. Entrusting them to the care of Mary, Star of the Sea, we pray for safety, dignity, peace, and hope for all who journey and work upon the waters.

Card. Michael Czerny, S.J. Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

“Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration” 23-24 June 2026

Some prominent religious leaders, academics, scholars and representatives of Christianity and the Dharmic religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism) gathered in Rome from 23-24 June 2026 at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), for a conference on the theme: “Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration.”

Promoted by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in continuity with its previous initiatives, the conference brought together individuals committed to strengthening human fraternity through interreligious dialogue and cooperation in Europe. Conducted in a cordial atmosphere and in a spirit of respect and openness, the conference offered to all participants an opportunity for mutual listening, learning and enrichment.

The participants reflected on the challenges facing contemporary societies and reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and collaboration as means of fostering understanding, solidarity and hope. In this context, they acknowledged the foundational role of fraternity for building cohesive and peaceful communities.

They also underlined that believers, while serving as credible witnesses of their morals and faith convictions, must never shy away from contributing to the flourishing of fraternity through concrete actions that promote peace, harmony and the wellbeing of all. In addition, they highlighted the importance of strengthening mutual respect, cooperation and engagement today, while remaining rooted in their respective religious traditions.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to nurturing a culture of encounter and collaboration for the common good. Participants expressed their hope that such collaboration will continue to inspire the wider society and contribute to the building of fraternity and peace