Press Release – Tour to France

TOUR TO FRANCE – “PEDALYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS” The year 2018 is an important one for the Pontifical University Regina Apostolorum, being the year of our 25th anniversary. An initiative of special interest is the Tour2France, a real cycling tour that left from St Peter’s Square on Sunday, July 22nd at 6:30am in order to reach Lourdes on the 29th of July, after 1550 km and 8 stages through three countries. The initiative is sponsored by his Alma Mater and has been brought about by Fr Clemens Gutberlet, LC, a graduate of Regina Apostolorum in 2003 in Theology and Philosophy. Currently he works in the Vatican in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and also he is an untiring cyclist capable of uniting faith and sport. Over the years, Fr Clemens, with his bicycle, has completed trips long and hard, receiving awards of the highest level. In 2009 he participated and won the Clericus Bike Cup, a race rreserved for priests and seminarians from all over the world. The race was held before the conclusive stage of the Giro d’Italia of that year. The “Tour2France” was born from a desire of Fr Clemens to unite the two great passions of his life: cycling and Christian Integral Formation: “The path of living the faith and giving testimony of the Love of God is a service. Love, as the way of authentic humanity, always becomes concrete in real works.” Thanks to the dedication of Fr Clemens and all his benefactors who support the Tour, it will be possible to create new scholarships for the students of merit of the Athenaeum, young people of talent and promise that desire to increase their knowledge and strengthen their spiritual life. The Tour will also bring us to discover and share the beauty of creation through the cultural landscape, that of welcoming and of popular and gastronomic traditions. The mission of Regina Apostolorum is one of dedication and commitment, with the goal of the formation of apostles and christian leaders. “Every year we welcome thousands of students from all over the world (this year 51 different nationalities), we foster dialogue and discussion, we join the knowledge of the tradition of the magisterium with the understanding of transformations in global society to form true leaders capable of acting efficaciously, guarenteeing a formation of excellence” – affirms Fr Thomas Montanaro, Administrative Vice Rector of the Athenaeum. “We have an ambitious objective – continues Fr Thomas Montanaro – to sow christian values in the world through our alumni, academics, religioius and professional, all real and true ambassadors of the New Evangelization. Many of our alumni are international researchers, bishops, cinematic consultants, university teachers, institutional references in the world of the Church, of economy, of academics, and of sports and priests throughout the whole world.” Thanks to the push from Fr Clemens, we have made ours the words of Pope Francis, “In Life as well as in Sport, the important thing is to get out there, with the others and with God in the search of the good, in the Church and in society, without fear, with corage and enthusiasm.” This alumnus, of whom we are very proud, is not used to sit back, he gives the best of himself, be it in the pastoral life or as an athlete, and we have the intention to follow his example. The Tour2France will be updated daily on the platform CrowdRise at this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/tour2france