Rome, IT – May 31, 20 ▉▉ – Pope Leo XIV will make a significant addition to this year’s Giro d’Italia, greeting the cyclists as they pass through Vatican City on Sunday, June 1. This historic event is not only a momentous occasion for the cycling world but also a heartfelt tribute to the late Pope Francis.

At 3:30 PM, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will pause to acknowledge the Giro d’Italia cyclists as they move through Vatican City State. This act will serve as a poignant tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had personally embraced this initiative.

“The Pope will greet the cyclists of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, June 1 at 3:30 PM, as they pass through Vatican City State.”

This event marks the symbolic “first stage” in anticipation of the upcoming Jubilee of Sport scheduled for June 14 and 15. The proposal originally came from Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and was implemented with the cooperation of the Governorate of Vatican City State and Athletica Vaticana.

Initiated on October 28, 2021, the project was formally presented to Athletica Vaticana as they received their certificate of recognition as an official member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It was publicly announced on April 29 at Capitoline Hill by Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

The final stage of the 108th Giro d’Italia will kickstart from the Baths of Caracalla. In a non-competitive format, cyclists will enter Vatican City from Via Paolo VI through the Petriano Entrance, embarking on a 3-kilometer route that weaves through the heart of the Vatican.

• Ride alongside St. Peter’s Basilica and the sacristy
• Ascend toward the Vatican Gardens, passing by the Church of Saint Stephen of the Abyssinians
• Pass the Vatican Railway Station and Governor’s Palace
• Exit through the Porta del Perugino, passing significant landmarks like the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery and the Vatican Heliport

The route culminates in a symbolic “world tour” along the “Marian Path,” featuring various images of the Mother of God venerated as Patroness in different countries.

Pope Leo XIV’s greeting to the Giro d’Italia cyclists promises to be an unforgettable moment of respect and reflection. Cyclists and fans alike can appreciate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the sacred and the sporting worlds coalesce.

*Date omitted for evergreen purposes.