This afternoon, at Saint Peter's, the Holy Mass for Sportsmen was officiated, closing 2015 and at the same time celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy. A strong representation of Federal Presidents and exponents of the sporting and institutional world participated in the service officiated by Monsignor Rino Fisichella, in the presence - amongst others - of the chaplain of the Italian Olympic team, Don Mario Lusek and of the undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture Melchor Sánchez, who formulated the rite of entrance through the Holy Door.

There was also a considerable presence of athletes, including Eleonora Giorgi and Antonella Palmisano (Athletics), Vincenzo Capelli, Matteo Castaldo, Marco Di Costanzo, Matteo Lodo, Niccolò Mornati and Giuseppe Vicino (Rowing), Martina Centofanti, Sofia Lodi, Alessia Maurelli, Marta Pagnini, Camilla Patriarca, Andreea Stefanescu (Rhythmic gymnastics), Odette Giuffrida (Judo), Frank Chamizo Marquez (Wrestling), Silvia Di Pietro, Erika Ferraioli, Laura Letrari (Swimming), Tania Cagnotti (Tuffi), Michele Frangilli, Marco Galiazzo, Mauro Nespoli and David Pasqualucci (Archery), Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich (Sailing), Arianna Fontana (Short Track), Carolina Kostner (Figure skating), the Olympic Games winner Enrico Fabris (Speed skating), together with youth Volleyball representatives and some army sport groups.

Monsignor Fisichella, in his homily, reminded everyone that "God has a plan for everyone. Even sport is a vocation, if we were not follow our vocations we would be sad. This Jubilee, ordered by Pope Francis, means to experience that God, in spite of everything, is close to us. This is the time for the great forgiveness. Lets take football for example: if the players on the field were to do what they want, would they win the championship? What is the coach there for? One must need to be able to have discipline, and a plan. There are moments in which there is the need of a greater help". Readings were made by Marco Durante (President of the CONI Athletes Committee), Matteo Castaldo, Tania Cagnotto, Frank Chamizo and Giulia Conti. The choir of the service was directed by Lorenzo Porzio, coxless four bronze in Athens 2004.