Rome, Italy.- Pope Francis today saluted the former high jumper and world record-holder of that specialty, Javier Sotomayor, at the conclusion of the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter”s Square.

Sotomayor was also accompanied by Cuban Luis Enrique Zayas, high jump world sub-20 champion, coach Barbaro Diaz Castro and Fabrizio Donato, former Italian long jumper and triple jumper, who currently acts as captain of the national team of light athletics.

After greeting the Supreme Pontiff, the group was received at the headquarters of the Pontifical Council for Culture by executives of the Vatican Athletics, sporting body of the Holy See.