Pope hails sports in meeting swimming champions

"Practiced with passion and careful respect for ethics, sport... becomes a lesson in healthy competition and physical improvement and a training ground for human and spiritual values," Benedict said.
"Dear athletes, you are models for people of your age and your example can be decisive for them to build their future positively," the pope told the group.
Hailing its "universal language," Benedict said sports "contribute to the construction of a more brotherly and united world."
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