Pope Francis
FILE -- In this photo taken on Saturday, June 15, 2019 file photo, Alex Zanardi takes the catwalk during the Emporio Armani men's Spring-Summer 2020 collection, unveiled during the fashion week, in Milan, Italy. Alex Zanardi, the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist, was transferred to a neurological rehabilitation center Tuesday, July 21, 2020, a month after getting seriously injured in a handbike crash. The Siena hospital that had been treating Zanardi since the June 19 crash announced that the athlete had been released -- without specifying where he was taken. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
Zanardi transferred to rehab center after handbike crash

Jul. 21, 2020 08:19 AM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012 file photo, Alessandro Zanardi of Italy celebrates winning the gold medal after he competed in the man's road cycle individual time trial H4 category at the 2012 Paralympics games, in London. Italian auto racing champion turned Paralympic gold medalist Alex Zanardi underwent a five-hour surgery Monday, July 6, 2020 to reconstruct his face following a crash on his handbike last month. It was the third major surgery that Zanardi has had since he crashed his handbike into an oncoming truck near the Tuscan town of Pienza on June 19 during a relay event. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
Zanardi has 5-hour surgery to rebuild his face after crash

Jul. 06, 2020 12:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 file photo, Alex Zanardi, of Italy, rides during the cycling portion of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Race car driver turned Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi has been seriously injured again. Police tell The Associated Press that Zanardi was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Siena following a road accident near the Tuscan town of Pienza during a national race for Paralympic athletes on handbikes. The 53-year-old Zanardi had both of his legs amputated following a horrific crash during a 2001 CART race in Germany. He was a two-time CART champion. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Zanardi undergoes 2nd brain surgery after handbike crash

Jun. 29, 2020 02:09 PM EDT

The front page of Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport showing Pope Francis writing a letter of encouragement to Alex Zanardi, Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Pope Francis is praising Alex Zanardi as an example of strength amid adversity as the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist recovers from a handbike crash. Francis penned a letter of encouragement assuring Zanardi and his family of his prayers that was published on the front page of sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope hails Zanardi's 'lesson of humanity' through disability

Jun. 24, 2020 05:02 AM EDT