Advertisement

Read the encouraging letter the Pope sent Olympic Refugee Team

If there’s one thing we can all agree on for the Olympics, it may be to root for the Refugee Team. As USA TODAY Sports’ Nancy Armour wrote, it’s a team made up of 10 athletes who fled Syria, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and now have no place to call home.

Shortly before the start of the Games, the Pope wrote a letter of encouragement to the athletes, which we have printed here and translated below.

pope

Dear brothers and sisters Rami Anis, Yiech Pur Biel, James Nyang Chiengjiek, Yonas Kinde, Anjelina Nada Lohalith, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Paulo Amotun Lokoro, Yusra Mardini, Popole Misenga and Yolande Bukasa Mabika:

I have learned about your team and read some of your interviews so that I could get closer to your lives and your aspirations.

I extend my greetings and wish you success at the Olympic Games in Rio — that your courage and strength find expression through the Olympic Games and serve as a cry for peace and solidarity. Through you may humanity understand that peace is possible, and that with peace everything is a triumph; while with war everything is a loss.

Your experience serves as testimony and benefits us all.

I pray for you and ask that you, please, do the same for me.
God bless you.
In brotherhood,
Francisco

The letter is part of the #TeamRefugees movement and global fan club, which has attracted support from a number of people around the world including celebrities like Olivia Wilde — and Grover.

Team Refugee Fan Testimonial: Grover from Sesame Street from Purpose on Vimeo.


More Sports