On November 26, during Pope Leo XIV’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square, an event took place that will forever be part of the history of the Olympic Dreams project and in the hearts of its athletes.
Photo: Vatican Media. Pope Leo XIV speaks with the Olympic Dreams team
Pope Leo XIV personally came over to the group of Ukrainian athletes participating in the project, warmly greeted them, and expressed his sincere support for Ukraine. The Pontiff blessed the athletes, wishing them strong health, spiritual strength, and peace for the entire Ukrainian land. The Pope also gladly posed for a group photo with the team — a symbolic gesture of support for the young generation that continues to train and dream despite the challenges of war.
The Olympic Dreams team in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican
Andrii Yurash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See and to the Sovereign Order of Malta, emphasized the symbolic significance of this event for Ukraine and its future:
“The Pope’s blessing for our children is a gesture of profound solidarity with all of Ukraine. At a time when the country is undergoing severe trials, the attention His Holiness to Ukrainian athletes is a sign of support for our resilience, our faith, and our future. This is a moment that will serve as a source of strength and inspiration for them for many years to come.”
The international support that the young athletes received that day became not only an important diplomatic event but also a deeply personal experience for the entire team. For the participants of Olympic Dreams, this meeting became a moment that united spiritual strength, inspiration, and the responsibility to continue their journey, representing Ukraine on the world stage.
“The Pope’s blessing for our children is a gesture of profound solidarity with all of Ukraine. At a time when the country is undergoing severe trials, the attention His Holiness to Ukrainian athletes is a sign of support for our resilience, our faith, and our future. This is a moment that will serve as a source of strength and inspiration for them for many years to come.”
The international support that the young athletes received that day became not only an important diplomatic event but also a deeply personal experience for the entire team. For the participants of Olympic Dreams, this meeting became a moment that united spiritual strength, inspiration, and the responsibility to continue their journey, representing Ukraine on the world stage.
Anatoliy Boyko, Oleksandra Starkova, Oleksandra Novikova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See Andrii Yurash, Karen Balayan (from left to right)
Anatoliy Boyko, the initiator and patron of the Olympic Dreams project, highlighted the importance of this moment for the entire team:
“Today’s meeting with the Pope is not just a great honor. It is a deeply meaningful sign of attention to Ukraine, its future, and our children, who continue to work, grow, and fight for their dreams despite everything. We asked for help in achieving peace in Ukraine and received the blessing of Pope Leo XIV, which gives our athletes faith and inner strength. We are sincerely grateful for the care shown for Ukraine’s destiny and for the support our team felt. For us, this is an incentive to move forward, achieve new victories on the world stage, and do everything possible to develop Ukrainian sports globally.”
“Today’s meeting with the Pope is not just a great honor. It is a deeply meaningful sign of attention to Ukraine, its future, and our children, who continue to work, grow, and fight for their dreams despite everything. We asked for help in achieving peace in Ukraine and received the blessing of Pope Leo XIV, which gives our athletes faith and inner strength. We are sincerely grateful for the care shown for Ukraine’s destiny and for the support our team felt. For us, this is an incentive to move forward, achieve new victories on the world stage, and do everything possible to develop Ukrainian sports globally.”
Anatoliy Boyko, initiator of the Olympic Dreams project, and Andrii Yurash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See
The event became an important page in the international presence of Ukraine’s athletes and showed that even in the most difficult times, sport and the power of dreams can unite people around the world.
The Olympic Dreams project, founded by the Charitable Foundation “The Future to Children,” has been organizing international sports camps for Ukrainian athletes for four consecutive years, creating safe conditions for their training and development. The project’s 30th camp is currently underway in Italy. During this time, the Olympic Dreams athletes have won more than 1200 medals at international and Ukrainian tournaments, and the Ukrainian national anthem and the blue-and-yellow flag have been proudly raised many times in their honor.
Photos: Vatican Media, Kateryna Zaika.
The Olympic Dreams project, founded by the Charitable Foundation “The Future to Children,” has been organizing international sports camps for Ukrainian athletes for four consecutive years, creating safe conditions for their training and development. The project’s 30th camp is currently underway in Italy. During this time, the Olympic Dreams athletes have won more than 1200 medals at international and Ukrainian tournaments, and the Ukrainian national anthem and the blue-and-yellow flag have been proudly raised many times in their honor.
Photos: Vatican Media, Kateryna Zaika.
Contact details:
Email: uachildrenfund@gmail.com
Website: maydit.com.ua/olympic_dreams
Facebook: @olympic.dreams.project
Instagram: @olympic_dreams_ua
Email: uachildrenfund@gmail.com
Website: maydit.com.ua/olympic_dreams
Facebook: @olympic.dreams.project
Instagram: @olympic_dreams_ua