Paris 2024 Olympics: Pope Francis greets Letsile Tebogo

At the end of yesterday’s General Audience, Pope Francis greeted Letsile Tebogo, the young man from Botswana who has become the fastest man in the world after winning gold in the 200 meter dash in Paris.

The Olympics held in July in the French capital continue to leave stories that deserve to be told. An example of this is the curious meeting that took place yesterday in St. Peter’s Square.

Tebogo, 21, was able to greet the Holy Father, to whom he made a special request: that he sign the shoes with which he had run in Paris and on which he engraved the date of birth and the initials of his mother, Elizabeth Seratiwa, who died. shortly before the competition, on May 18.

The young athlete told Pope Francis that his mother, who died after fighting breast cancer, was a very believer. The Holy Father, after listening to his story and congratulating him on his medal, signed and blessed the orange sneakers.

The African sprinter, who wanted to leave the sport after the death of his mother, also asked the Pontiff to pray for Elizabeth’s soul and stated that he competed for her.

In Botswana, Tebogo’s country, it is normal for children and young people to run without shoes. Now, by winning the Olympic gold, he wants to raise awareness in the world about this reality.

The sprinter participated in the General Audience in which Pope Francis reflected on the current situation of migrants and warned that rejecting them is “a serious sin.”

Thanks to Vatican Athleticsother Olympic medalists such as the Ukrainian Anna Ryžykova, who won bronze in Paris in the 4×400, were also able to greet Pope Francis.