WASHINGTON – Georgetown University hosted the Sport at the Service of Humanity (SSH) Conference this past week on campus.   The conference, co-sponsored by the Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture, wa designed to advance the meaningful work of the Vatican's Sport at the Service of Humanity initiative. The conference focused on three pillars – Inspiration, Inclusion and Involvement – and provided opportunities for attendees to reflect in both breakout sessions, and through excursions around the Washington, D.C. area.
 
"It is wonderful to have this opportunity to come together and reflect on the many ways that sport builds community, enriches our lives, and strengthens our connections with one another, stretching around the globe," said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. "We are deeply grateful to all our partners in this effort, and especially the Sport at the Service of Humanity Foundation, Cardinal Ravasi, and the Pontifical Council for Culture, for their leadership and support in making this very special gathering possible."
 
Inspired by His Holiness Pope Francis, Sport at the Service of Humanity is the only global sport and multi-faith movement. It was launched in October of 2016, when the Pontifical Council for Culture hosted its first global conference on Faith & Sport at the Vatican. The inaugural conference resulted in the endorsement of the movement's Declaration of Principles –  Compassion, Love, Respect, Enlightenment, Balance and Joy – six faith-based values to serve as guiding principles in sport and in life.
 
"All those engaged in sports must become models to create bridges over the valleys of ethnic division, of socio-cultural separation, of ideological opposition," said His Eminence Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture of the Holy See. "I can think of no better place than Georgetown to explore how the power of faith and sports can work together for the common good."
 
The Georgetown conference brought together speakers and attendees who are leaders in sports, education, faith and media. The speakers, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir John Key and Aimee Mullins, former American paralympic athlete, Stranger Things Actress, model and Georgetown alumna, to explore how the power of sport can affect positive change in the world.
 
Also featured were BIG EAST Conference Commissioner Val Ackerman, Former NFL Commissioner and Georgetown alum and former men's basketball player Paul Tagliabue, Georgetown Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed and Head Men's Basketball Coach Patrick Ewing.  Select Hoya student-athletes were invited to the conference and some participated in the interfaith service held at Dahlgren Chapel.