Leo XIV receives the 'maglia rosa' of the Giro and blesses the cyclists before the last stage

Vatican City, June 1 (EFE).- Pope Leo XIV received the 'maglia rosa' of the Giro d'Italia this Sunday and blessed the cyclists, whom he called "models" for young people, before the final stage in Rome.

"Welcome to the Vatican. It is a pleasure to greet you at this final stage of the Giro d'Italia. I hope that for all of you this will truly be a beautiful day," said the pontiff, alongside Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first woman to govern the Vatican City State.

Leo XIV, a recognized sports enthusiast, addressed the group to qualify his runners as "models for all the young people in the world" and express his gratitude for it.

"Cycling is as important as sport in general. I thank you for all that you do, you are true role models, and I hope that just as you have learned to take care of the body, you will also do so with the spirit," he said, encouraging to cultivate in the same way "the body, the mind, the heart and the spirit."

Finally, the American pontiff, also with Peruvian nationality, imparted his apostolic blessing, which served as the starting gun for the final stage of the Giro 2025.

At that moment, the cyclists began to pedal through the interior of the Vatican walls, along a 3-kilometer route filled with art, history, and spirituality.

The pontifical stage began on the side of St. Peter's Basilica and continued, uphill, to the Vatican Gardens, passing the 'Mater Ecclesiae' monastery or the Grotto of Lourdes, and then exiting the Vatican confines through the Perugino Gate.

Already in Italian territory, the last stage of the competition officially began, with the British Simon Yates (Visma Lease a Bike) as the virtual champion.

The idea of the Giro peloton crossing the pontifical state arose when, in October 2021, during the pontificate of Francis, the 'Athletica Vaticana' was recognized as a member of the International Cycling Union.

And the stage will serve as a prelude to the Jubilee of Sport, which will bring together athletes and fans from all over the world in Rome on June 14 and 15 for the current Holy Year.

Popes throughout history have paid great attention to this sport on wheels. Pius XII, for example, received the Giro peloton in 1946, Paul VI inaugurated the competition of the 57th edition in 1974, and John Paul II received the riders in audience for the great jubilee of 2000.