Along with FIM President Jorge Viegas, MotoGP hero Francesco Bagnaia was received in a private audience by Pope Francis. The Holy Father at least identified himself as the owner of a motorcycle.
A week after the finale of the MotoGP season in Spain, the second in the 2024 series, three-time motorcycle world champion Francesco Bagnaia, went on a special trip to Rome. The driver of the race was received by Pope Francis in the Hall of the Popes in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. Bagnaia was accompanied by his wife Domizia and a large delegation of high-level officials, including Jorge Viegas, president of the FIM world motorcycle racing association, and Giovanni Copioli, head of the Italian motorcycle racing association (FMI).
In his welcoming speech, the Pope emphasized the social role of athletes and associations: “The dissemination of traffic education, which is also provided by your laws through the organization of courses in schools, you all respect. They have created opportunities to make children think, who are surprised by the masters of “motorcycle” but often they don’t know the danger,” said the Holy Father.
Francis added: “The time you dedicate to educational programs in this sense is an investment for life. Thank you for what you do to help and educate in this area.”
Pope Francis also did not miss a joke: “Please pray for me too.” Why? Because most of the time my work is very fast, but my motorcycle is old and doesn’t work well anymore.”
After the unusual meeting with the priest, Francesco Bagnaia summarized his feelings: «It was a great honor to be received by the Holy Father, a unique opportunity that I will always carry with me. I was very impressed by his personality and his words emphasizing his focus on the young and the young. Together with the Italian and International Motorcycle Federation, we shared a time that shaped me as a person and as a rider.”
