Never forget beauty: the beauty of life, the beauty of sport, that beauty which God has given us. Sport is a very suitable path for this discovery, to open ourselves, to go outside of our own walls and get in the game. This is how we learn to participate, to overcome, to struggle together. And all this helps us to become active members of society and also of the Church; and it helps society itself and the Church to overcome all forms of discrimination and exclusion.

With this words, the Holy Father greeted on 19 June, in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican a delegation of 150 disabled athletes involved in the Special Olympics project, which will participate in the World Games in Los Angeles on July.

The Pope received the torch of the World Games as a gift from Mr Tim Shriver, son of the foundress and president of Special Olympics. The President of "Special Olympics Italy" has instead given the red ball, symbol of the campaign #Playunified that promotes sports integrated worldwide.

Read the speech of the Holy Father to the athletes