Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis has said he hopes the Tokyo Olympics will be a sign of hope and “universal brotherhood” during the ravaging coronavirus.

During the end of the Angelus prayer on Sunday, July 26, the pontiff said: “In this period of pandemic, let these games be a sign of hope, a sign of universal brotherhood and of a healthy competitive spirit.”

“May God bless the organizers, the athletes and all those who are collaborating for this great celebration of sport,” he told faithful gathered on Saint Peter’s Square.

The Games opened officially on Friday July 23, in a nearly empty stadium after being postponed for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.