(ZENIT News / Vatican City-Glasgow, 07.31.2023).- From August 2 to 6, Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See’s official cycling team, will take part in the Cycling World Championship in Scotland, in spiritual communion with Pope Francis and the young people who, in the same hours, will be in Lisbon, Portugal, for the World Youth Day. This is the second time that the ‘Pope’s Team’ participates, after its debut in the 2022 World Championship in Australia.
From August 2 to 6, a “sports bridge” — leaning on the arches of fraternity, solidarity and inclusion — will join Lisbon and Glasgow. And Athletica Vaticana’s cyclists — the “Pope’s Team” — will pedal spiritually on that bridge so that all are truly brothers in sports as well.
On Thursday, August 3, two athletes of Athletica Vaticana, Rino Alberto Bellapadrona and Marcus Bergmann, will be at the ‘exit’ of the Gran Fondo, and on Sunday, August 6 athlete Rien Schurrhuis will cycle in the elite race with the world’s strongest cyclists: from Pogačar to Evenepoel, from Aert to Van der Poel.
In the style of Athletica Vaticana, and in communion with the experience of the World Youth Day, there will be something more than cycling in Glasgow. Specifically, on Saturday, August 5, the Vatican’s cyclists will embrace the Vincentian “Ozanam” community, point of reference for people living in conditions of fragility and poverty. The meeting is organized by the Archdiocese of Glasgow.
In addition, the white and yellow bicycle will be auctioned (donated by Pinarello, an Italian bicycle manufacturer) with which Rien Schurrhuis will race in the World Championship on August 6. The proceeds will be donated entirely to the Vatican’s “Santa Marta” Paediatric Clinic.
