The reason for the gesture:

In his speech at the press conference on the 29^th of April at Rome City Hall, Monsignor Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, emphasised this special moment in the history of the Holy See, which marks another small step in the realisation of the great call of the Second Vatican Council: to bring the Church closer to culture (Gaudium et Spes, 58). Expressing his gratitude to our esteemed Pope Francis for supporting this initiative, the Secretary explained that the passage within the Vatican will not be a ‘tourist passage’ but a ‘symbolic passage’: cyclists will ride the ‘Via Mariana’, following an itinerary around the Vatican Gardens, where there are numerous images of Our Lady from all over the world. In fact, the route through the Vatican is like a small “tour of the world”, guided by Our Lady, the mother of Jesus.

Another reason for this transition is the celebration of the Jubilee of Hope. Of all the sports that exist, cycling has four distinctive features: it is probably one of the most physically demanding sports; it is a sport that takes place “next door”; it is a sport that lets us enjoy natural landscapes; and it is a sport that allows the public to be very close to the athletes free of charge. Thus, the Church wants to convey this message: sport also has a social responsibility. And one of the main functions of sport is to be a sign of hope for humanity, as an arena of peace, opportunity, respect, tolerance and integration. Given its great visibility, sport also has a great responsibility: to inspire society to be more human. In conclusion, to quote the words of our dear Pope Francis: ‘Sport belongs to everyone and is for everyone: it is a right. Sport is an ever-new Canticle of the Creatures’ (cf. Preface to the book ‘Games of Peace’, 8).

Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome: "We are delighted and proud to welcome the Giro d'Italia to Rome for the third consecutive year, the grand finale in pink that all lovers of cycling races cannot do without. This year, the event will be marked by an exciting symbolic start from Vatican City: a tribute to Pope Francis, his figure and his message of hope in this Jubilee year. It will be an unforgettable eve of Republic Day, a day that will combine sporting passion and universal values, on a route that will touch the heart of the Grande Bellezza and end at the Circus Maximus. The Giro d'Italia will give the world a spectacular finale and Rome will once again be at its side to make of it an unforgettable postcard."

Urbano Cairo, President of RCS MediaGroup: "It is an honour to celebrate the Grand Arrival of the Giro d’Italia in the heart of Rome, paying tribute to Pope Francis and his message of hope. In such an important year, that of the Jubilee, having the support and thoughts of Pope Francis gives even greater value to our event. It will be an unforgettable stage, in which sport and culture will intertwine in a setting that is unique in the world. The 1st of June will undoubtedly be a day to remember."

Alessandro Onorato, Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion for the Municipality of Rome: "Three years ago, we brought the Giro d'Italia to Rome, and we can say that it was a winning bet: now we want it to become a tradition for the city. We are delighted because it is a major event that involves the whole city, not only the centre but also beautiful areas such as Ostia, generating an economic impact of between 100 and 200 million Euro, as estimated in a study by Banca Ifis. It will be a great social and sporting celebration, a one-of-a-kind spectacle with free admission: in the two previous editions, over 1.5 million Romans and tourists watched the champions pass by on the road. It will also be an extraordinary opportunity to promote tourism, with the most evocative images broadcast in over 200 countries and seen by more than 700 million television viewers worldwide. Moreover, we are glad that this year there will be a special passage through the Vatican City State: it will be a way to pay homage to Pope Francis.”

Paolo Bellino, CEO of RCS Sports & Events: "We are extremely proud to welcome the Giro d'Italia to the unique setting of Rome for the third consecutive year. This year, with the symbolic start from Vatican City State, thanks to the sensitivity of Pope Francis, an even more special element of an event that grows in visibility and international prestige every year. Rome will offer riders and spectators from all over the world an incomparable setting, with a route that highlights the historical beauty of the city and the excitement of sport. It will be an extraordinary celebration for everyone, marked by passion and participation."

Mauro Vegni, Director of the Giro d'Italia: "Rome will once again provide a spectacular finale to the Giro d'Italia, passing through iconic locations known throughout the world. The start from Vatican City State, promoted by Pope Francis in this Jubilee year, adds a special emotion to this stage, which combines sport with spirituality. The city route, passing through historic and evocative locations such as the Circus Maximus, Ostia and the Imperial Forums, will offer riders and spectators an extraordinary setting to celebrate the end of the Corsa Rosa. It will be a memorable day, paying tribute to Rome and the message of hope left by Pope Francis."

Vincenzo Nibali: ‘Rome is a city that always offers unforgettable experiences, and it is wonderful that the Giro d’Italia has once again chosen it as its final destination. In previous years, we have seen huge crowds lining the streets, and I regret never having had the opportunity to race on these roads. Furthermore, this year's passage through Vatican City State will be a special experience for the riders.’

Stefano Barigelli, Director of La ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’: “Il Giro and La Gazzetta have been together since the beginning. The decision to conclude the most beautiful race in the world in Rome is the natural culmination of a journey that symbolically unites the entire country with a pink thread.”

ROUTE:

Cyclists will enter Vatican City State from Via Paolo VI through the Petriano Entrance. They will cycle alongside St. Peter's Basilica and then climb towards the Vatican Gardens, passing in front of the railway station in the area of the Governorate Palace. They will continue uphill towards the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John's Tower and the heliport. They will then ride alongside the walls - along the so-called “Marian route” - to the Square Garden and the Vatican Museums. With an avenue dedicated to sport, the place names recall the races organised by Pope Pius X at the beginning of the 20th century. Every metre is steeped in history, symbolism and spirituality. They will then walk along Via delle Fondamenta - next to the Sistine Chapel and the apse of the basilica - to reach the square of Santa Marta and exit Vatican City through the gate on Vicolo del Perugino.

Source: Vatican News