ABSTRACT
It goes without saying that sports play an important role in contemporary society. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church and theology often seem to overlook this aspect of human life because sports sooner seem to involve physicality rather than spirituality. This contribution will examine whether this is accurate and whether the Catholic Church and theology have indeed so far not paid any attention to physical exercise and the rise of modern sports.
Also, the chapter discusses whether the recent document Giving the best of yourself (2018) by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life offers new common ground for Church, theology and sports. Very few Catholic faculties actually deal with this possible common ground. Yet, from its earliest beginnings, the Church has shown an interest in physical exercise and play, and a quick scan of the Vatican website shows that, since the twentieth century, popes have on at least 200 occasions, from audiences to addresses, spoken about body culture and sports. It shows a certain development from an ecclesiastical embedding and engagement towards an ecclesiastical vision on these phenomena as a service to the world.
