Cyclists receive Pope Leo XIV's blessing in historic Giro d'Italia finale

A historical detour marked nan last shape of this year's Giro d'Italia arsenic 159 cyclists pedalled done nan Vatican gardens, receiving nan blessing of recently elected Pope Leo XIV.

"You are domiciled models for young group each complete nan world," nan pope told nan peloton, aft shaking hands pinch Simon Yates and different title leaders.

The three-kilometre thrust down St Peter's Basilica paid tribute to Pope Francis, who had primitively planned nan arena for nan 2025 Holy Year. His successor, nan first North American pope, chose to support nan motion live successful his memory.

While popes person blessed Giro riders before, and nan title has antecedently passed done aliases adjacent St Peter’s Square, this marked nan first clip nan way took nan peloton wrong nan Vatican walls.