Pope Leo XIV blesses the peloton before his crossing of the Vatican

A very spiritual step. Pope Leo XIV gave his blessing to the Peloton du Tour d'Italie, Sunday, June 1. The sovereign pontiff presented the giro runners as “Models for all young people in the world”during their Vatican crossing on the occasion of the 21st and last stage. The peloton entered the territory of the Holy See to cross the famous gardens of the smallest state in the world at reduced pace, during fictitious departure.

Léon XIV first received from the hands of Urbano Cairo, owner of RCS Sport, the organizer of the Tour d'Italie, a replica of the pink jersey. The runners then set off on the ground in front of the sovereign pontiff and the four distinctive jerseys, including the leader and pink jersey Simon Yates, came down from their bike to shake hands. “Welcome to the Vatican, it makes me happy to greet you for this last stage of the Giro, I hope this day will be a great day for all of you”said the Pope during a brief speech. “Thank you for what you do, be keen to treat the body, but also the heart”he concluded before giving his blessing to the peloton.

The Giro had already entered the Vatican in 1974 and 2000. This crossing was initially planned within the framework of the jubilee, a “holy year” organized every twenty-five years and which brings together pilgrims from around the world, but it has become a form of homage to Pope Francis, died on April 21.

The runners came out of the Vatican through the Pérginine Porte to reach the real departure of this 143 km long stage which will end on a circuit in the historic center of Rome after a round trip to the Mediterranean Sea. The wearer of the pink jersey, the British Simon Yates, should unless accident win the 108th edition at the end of this last step.