Pope Francis meets the Trentino WU Delegation with FISU President Gallien
ROME – Today 6 November, Pope Francis officially lit the Universiade Torch for the Trentino 2013 Winter Universiade during a brief and private ceremony, prior to the Popes’s General Audience on the Saint Peter’s square in Rome.
The ceremony of the lighting of the torch for Trentino 2013 WU was attended by FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien; the President of the Trentino Organising Committee, Sergio Anesi; the Minister for Regional Affairs Graziano Delrio; the Archbishop of Trento, Luigi Bressan; the President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Alberto Pacher with the commissioners Tiziano Mellarini and Martha Dalmaso; the rector of the University of Trento Daria de Pretis with the President of the University, Innocent Chive; the Mayor of Trento Alessandro Andreatta and CUSI President Leonardo Coiana .
Sergio Anesi, President of the Trentino OC, called the ceremony “an extremely important moment at which the Pope wanted to give his support. With the lighting of the torch we tried a unique experience, destined to become the heritage of all those present. This gesture gave further direction to the efforts of those who are working to bring many young people to Trentino. The presence of Pope Francis is an important testimony to the world of sports, Italy and Trentino.”
Pope Francis & Sergio Anesi, President Trentino OC
FISU President Gallien spoke of a “great sign for the sport, very important for our world that fills us with joy and pride. With the lighting of the torch Pope Francis wanted to send a message of confidence to young people, who are our heritage for the future, for whom we are committed to build a better world full of solidarity. The lighting of the torch is a symbolic act of commitment for all of us.”
The torch that will carry the Universiade Flame has already been dubbed ‘Flower of the Alps’, resembling in form and color a gentian, a strong symbol of the mountains chosen as the symbiosis of sport, research, technological innovation and the environment.
The first three torchbearers: Riccardo Tonetti, Debora Sighel and Eleonora Strobbe
This afternoon the torch will be shown to the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) and the historic La Sapienza university in Rome. Tomorrow, 7 November, the torch will still be in the Italian capital, visiting the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Capitol and then some ministries (Economic Development, Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Education, Foreign Affairs) and the CUSI headquarters. In the coming weeks the Trentino Torch will travel to other Italian and European cities, propagating the message of the Universiade. Turin, Lausanne, Pisa, Monaco, Venice, are some of the stages of its journey, where it will meet with university students and academic representatives. The torch will then return to Trento to inaugurate the 26th Winter Universiade, after crossing the valleys of Trentino and its competition venues. A relay race of champions will end this Universiade Torch Relay on 11 December, from Rovereto, home of the international conference of the WU, to Piazza Duomo, to light the brazier for the Universiade Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 26th Winter Universiade.
(Source: Trentino 2013 WUOC)