'Believe to be Alive' to be supported by Pope Francis

Pope Francis will be among the spectators at a forthcoming celebration of disabled sports which will include deaf sport.

The organisers of the event, called ‘Believe to be alive’, to be held in Rome on October 5^th and 6^th have confirmed that the pontiff will attend some of the festivities and will make a welcoming speech at the Vatican on October 4^th.

The event, the first disabled sports gala to be held in Rome will include sport for the visually impaired and those with intellectual disabilities as well as deaf and Paralympic sport. Sports men and women have been invited from around the world with participants having the opportunity of a private audience with Pope Francis.

The event’s organisers have described one of the purposes of the gala as showing how Christian values can fit with sports. They say that the raised profile of disability sport in recent years has changed the general perception of disabled people.

They talk of a better image of disabled people, and suggest that people now equate a desire by disabled people to get the most out of life with having ambitions.  They describe this as a beautiful and genuine thing that fits with the message of Pope Francis and with the Catholic community: a love of life.