Milan Archdiocese Receives Vatican Sports Cross Ahead of Winter Games
The Archdiocese of Milan has welcomed the Vatican Sports Cross as part of preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, marking the Church’s engagement with the global sporting event set to take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The wooden cross, presented during an evening liturgical celebration at the Basilica of San Babila, arrived in the city one week before the official opening of the Games. The cross has been entrusted by the Vatican to host dioceses since 2012 as a symbolic presence accompanying the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Church officials described its arrival as a sign of pastoral attention to athletes, spectators, and the broader sporting community gathering for the international competition.
The cross was formally received by Mario Delpini from representatives of Athletica Vaticana, the Vatican’s official sports association. During the Mass, Archbishop Delpini read a message from Pope Leo XIV expressing hope that the Winter Games would foster friendship, fraternity, and peaceful encounter among peoples. Vatican officials present emphasized that sport offers a shared language capable of bridging cultural, national, and religious differences. The presentation took place on the eve of the anniversary of the Olympic Truce, a tradition revived in modern times to promote peace and the safe participation of athletes and visitors during the Games.
The Vatican Sports Cross was created by British artist Jon Cornwall and is also known as the Cross of Athletes. It has traveled to dioceses hosting Olympic events as a reminder of the spiritual dimension of sport and the values it can embody, including discipline, solidarity, and respect. Vatican representatives noted that the Church’s presence during major sporting events is intended to invite reflection on purpose and meaning beyond competition. They highlighted sport’s capacity to promote mutual understanding and cooperation, particularly in a global context marked by conflict and division. The Cross serves as a focal point for prayer and reflection throughout the duration of the Games.
The welcoming ceremony marked the opening moment of a broader initiative promoted by the Archdiocese of Milan under the title “For Each Other.” Throughout the Olympic period, the archdiocese plans to host a series of educational, cultural, and sporting activities across the city, with particular attention to young people. Church officials said the program aims to connect sport with values of peace, service, and community life. As Milan prepares to host athletes and visitors from around the world, the presence of the Sports Cross underscores the Church’s intention to accompany the Games with reflection on human dignity, shared responsibility, and the common good.
