Pope John Paul II called for a truce during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens saying the event could help conquer hatred around the world.
The Pope told the new Greek ambassador to the Holy See, “I hope that in a troubled and sometimes uncertain world, this sporting event can be a joyful manifestation of the membership of all in the same human, fraternal, joint community”.
He said the Olympics offered the possibility of a “new experience of fraternity to conquer hatred and bring peoples together”.
“On this occasion, I call for a durable truce of all violence, so that the peaceful spirit and healthy stimulation which are the foundations of the Olympic Games is diffused in all domains of society and on all continents”.
