Faith in motion: Pope Leo XIV highlights Trinity and the spirit of sport at Jubilee Mass

At the heart of the Vatican on Trinity Sunday, Pope Leo XIV presided over a special Jubilee Mass for the world of sport, drawing athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts to St. Peter’s Basilica for a celebration that connected faith with physical movement, community, and hope.

In his homily, Leo XIV offered a rich reflection on the link between the Holy Trinity and the human experience of sport. Drawing from the Book of Proverbs, he spoke of a God who delights in creation—a “God who plays,” a Deus ludens, echoing the joy and dynamism found in divine life and athletic pursuit.

“Every good human activity reflects the beauty of God,” the pope said. “Sport is one of them.” He explained that the Trinity is not static but a relationship—a perichoresis, a “dance” of love between Father, Son, and Spirit. “This divine movement invites us to see sport not as mere competition, but as a call to give of ourselves, to grow together, and to mirror God’s joy.”

Highlighting three key values, the pope said sport can: Promote community in a society often marked by isolation, ground us in reality amid the temptations of the digital world, and teach us to embrace failure in a world obsessed with winning.

He reminded the faithful that true champions are not perfect machines, but men and women who find strength to rise after every fall. 

“Jesus is the true Athlete of God,” Leo said, quoting St. John Paul II, “who conquered the world not by force, but through the fidelity of love.”

The pope also honored the role of sport in the lives of modern saints, particularly Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron of athletes, who is set to be canonized on September 7. 

His vibrant, sports-filled life serves as a reminder that holiness, like excellence in sport, is achieved through daily training in love and sacrifice.

Leo XIV called on athletes and sports communities to embrace a higher mission: “Be a reflection of the love of the Trinity—not only in your victories, but in the way you play, relate, and uplift one another.”

Entrusting all athletes to Mary, the pope prayed that their efforts may lead not only to medals but to the ultimate prize: “the eternal field where joy never ends.”