The Boxing World Honors the Memory of Pope Francis on the First Anniversary of His Passing

The World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio Sulaimán, join today in a solemn and grateful tribute to mark the first anniversary of the passing of Pope Francis (1936–2025).

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Latin American Pope in history, was more than just a spiritual guide to millions since his election in 2013; he became a fundamental pillar for the humanitarian growth of boxing.

His blessings, rooted in deep faith, had effects that many within our sport consider miraculous—transforming lives and offering hope in the darkest of times.

The relationship between the Holy Father and the Sulaimán family was profound and close. This union was born from a shared vision of education and sports as tools for social change.

Following Román Rodríguez’s proposal in 2016, Héctor Sulaimán led the launch of Scholas Mexico, working alongside global directors José María del Corral and Enrique Palmeyro.

From this collaboration, BoxVal (Boxing with Values) was born—a program designed to educate through boxing, art, and technology. As the noblest of sports, with a unique capacity to instill discipline and respect, boxing was chosen by the Pope and the WBC as the ideal vehicle to promote global harmony.

The impact of this relationship took form in the historic “Fights for Peace.” The first of these, a matchup between Catholic fighter Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Muslim fighter Amir Khan, proved that sport can transcend religious barriers.

During the promotional tour across England, New York, and Los Angeles, the Olive Tree of Peace was presented, and commemorative belts were crafted by Argentine artisan Adrián Pallarols, a close collaborator of the Holy Father.

Pope Francis always kept his doors open for the WBC, welcoming legends such as Julio César Chávez, Deontay Wilder, Sergio “Maravilla” Martínez, and Canelo Álvarez in private audiences, always urging them to be examples of integrity for the youth.

Today, we recall his final words spoken on Easter Sunday in 2025:

“Let us renew our hope and our trust in others, even those who are different from us or come from distant lands… For we are all children of God.”

His passing in 2025, following a courageous battle with pneumonia, left an immense void. However, his spirit lives on in every memory and in every corner of the world where boxing serves to unite rather than divide.

The World Boxing Council is eternally grateful for the blessings His Holiness bestowed upon our community.