This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the members of the Austrian Ski Association (Ski Austria), on the occasion of the World Ski Championships 2025, to be held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, from 4 to 16 February.

The following is the Pope’s greeting to those present at the audience:

Greeting of the Holy Father

Dear Msgr. Lackner,
Your Excellency,
Dear athletes, dear friends,

I warmly greet you, who have come to the Vatican from Austria to meet the Successor of Peter.

Your homeland, rich in majestic mountains, offers excellent possibilities for alpine sports. Your association, Ski Austria, founded in 1905, aims to promote the various skiing activities nationwide, especially the athletes in their outstanding performances. I would like to encourage all of you to always cultivate in your endeavours the values inherent to sport: such as constancy, sincerity, friendship, solidarity. Constancy, sincerity, friendship, solidarity. In this way you make your contribution to a more fraternal world, because sport creates brotherhood, in order to sing, amidst the wonders of nature in your country, the hymn of praise to the Creator.

May the Lord accompany you and the Guardian Angels protect you from every danger. I pray for you and you, pray for me.

(Words in German) Ich bete für Sie, beten Sie für mich: Diese Arbeit ist nicht einfach! Vielen Dank.