Pope Leo XIV blessed the bicycles competing in Giro D’Talia as the final stage enters the Vatican Garden

Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV blessed 159 cyclists competing in Giro D’Talia on Sunday as the last phase of the three -week race began with an unprecedented ride through the Vatican Garden behind the Saint. Peter’s Basilica. After entering the Vatican, the leaders of the race, Simon Yates and other classifications, got off their bikes and proceeded to join hands with the Pope, presented with a replica of the leader’s pink jersey. “You are a role model for youth around the world,” Leo told Peloton. “God can bless all of you on this last part of Gir D’Talia. Congratulations to all of you. You can know that you are always welcome to the Vatican. Welcome to the church, always represents the love of God for all people. , At the moment of an off-script, Naro Quintana, Colombia, Giro Champion of 2014, stopped to congratulate the Pope after all other riders already proceeded. While the pop has previously blessed the Giro riders and the race first passed through the St. Peter Square or next, it first marked that the route took Peloton on the three kilometers (about two-miles) route inside the Watican walls. The intention of running inside the Vatican was originally as a tribute to Pope Francis during the 2025 Holy Year, but after Francis died, Leo – the first American Pope decided to honor the program in memory of France. The bicycles entered the Vatican to the left of the St. Peter via Patriyano Gate, riding around Basilica and then climbed towards the gardens before leaving the Santa Marta Hotel at the perugino gate. Santa Marta was the place where Francis lived. The route through the Vatican occurred during the non-perpetratory neutral period before the platform. The official start was given after exiting the narrow Perugino Gate. The British Rider Yets could cruise for the title with a profit of about four minutes on the Isaac del Toro of Mexico. The final stage of the 143-cilomer (89-mile) concluded with a circuit of eight laps through the downtown Rome and ended next to the Circus Maximus. This is the third time Leo was chosen last month that he met the world of sports. Two weeks ago, Leo held a private audience with top ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner. Then last week, he welcomed the players and employees of the Italian football champion Napoli in the Vatican.