Pope Pius XII believed that the beauty of gymnastics is revealed in the beauty of the athlete's soul.
Gymnastics, like any other athletic competition, reveals the beauty of the human body and its marvelous strength and grace.
However, Pope Pius XII that gymnastics has that beauty only when the soul is the foundation.
Pope Pius XII addressed a variety of athletes and sports leaders on November 8, 1952, and highlighted this fundamental truth.
Pius XII compares the soul of a gymnast to the musician playing a violin.
He then goes on to explain that the closer the union is between body and soul, the more beautiful the routine.
As a result, he believed that greater emphasis should be placed on the soul, than the body.
This is a profound concept, one that reminds us that while bodily perfection is remarkable to see, what is even more astounding is when bodily perfection is matched with spiritual holiness.
