At the end of the public reception on Wednesday, the Giro d’Italia champion Colombian cyclist Bernard met with Pope Francis. He presented the Pope with a rose jersey and a bicycle in the name of all his compatriots.
(Vatican News Network)Pope Francis met with cyclist Bernal (Egan Arley Bernal Gómez) at the end of the public reception on Wednesday, June 16. Afterwards, Bernal told reporters, “I am a Catholic and I will pray before the toughest match.” Bernal was born in Colombia in 1997 and has been a professional cyclist since 2016. After winning the Tour de France in 2019, he achieved double success in two famous stage competitions and became the first Colombian cyclist to win the championship.
Bernal was interviewed by this news network and mentioned the meeting with the Pope. He said excitedly: “This is a unique experience. I grew up in a Catholic family. This experience is very important to me, more important than the Tour de France and the Tour de France. I am very much happy.”
Regarding how the meeting with the Pope took place and the gifts he gave to the Pope, Bernal said, “I greeted the Pope, and the Pope started speaking almost jokingly. He asked me, before riding a bicycle. I will have a few cups of coffee. Then, I presented Pope Francis with a bicycle and a rose-colored sweatshirt and told him that it was a gift from the Colombian people. I also said that at this moment, we Colombians need the Pope’s surrender. blessing”.
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