Pope Leo imparted his blessing to more than 150 cyclists participating in the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, as the final stage of the three-week race commenced with an unprecedented route through the Vatican gardens, behind St. Peter’s Basilica.
Upon entering Vatican City, overall race leader Simon Yates and other classification leaders dismounted to greet the Pope, presenting him with a replica of the leader’s pink jersey.
“You are role models for young people all over the world,” Leo told the peloton.
“May God bless all of you on this last part of the Giro d’Italia. Congratulations to all of you.
“May you know that you are always welcome here in the Vatican. You are always welcome by the church, which represents God’s love for all people.”
In an unscripted moment, Nairo Quintana of Colombia, the 2014 Giro champion, paused to greet the Pope after the other riders had moved on.
While popes have blessed the Giro riders before and the race has previously passed through or next to St. Peter’s Square, this marked the first time that the route took the peloton on a three-kilometre (nearly two-mile) route inside the Vatican walls.
Bringing the race inside the Vatican was originally intended as an homage to Pope Francis during the 2025 Holy Year but after Francis died, Leo, the first American pope, decided to honour the event in Francis’ memory.
The cyclists entered the Vatican through the Petriano gate to the left of St. Peter’s, rode around the basilica and then climbed up toward the gardens before exiting near the Santa Marta hotel at the Perugino gate.
Santa Marta was where Francis lived.
The passage through the Vatican occurred during the non-competitive neutralised period before the stage. The official start was given after the riders exited the narrow Perugino gate.
British rider Yates could cruise to the title with an advantage of nearly four minutes over Isaac Del Toro of Mexico.
The 143-kilometre (89-mile) final stage concluded with a circuit of eight laps through downtown Rome and finished next to the Circus Maximus.
It is the third time since Leo was elected that he has met with the sports world.
