VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a tribute to Pope Francis and his message of hope for the Jubilee Year, elite cyclists rode through Vatican City and its gardens before starting the last stage of the Giro d’Italia in Rome.

The 159 cyclists from 29 countries whooshed past Swiss Guards and Vatican police at the gates to the tiny Vatican City State and made a short pit stop in the sunny square dedicated to the Roman Protomartyrs next to the sacristy of St. Peter’s Basilica June 1.

Accompanied by Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist Raffaella Petrini, president of the office governing Vatican City State, Pope Leo XIV greeted the special guests and shook hands with the top-ranking cyclist in each of the grand tour’s four classifications.

“It is a pleasure to be able to greet you on this last stage of t

See Full Page