At the end of the General Audience on June 30, Pope Francis warmly thanked his driver, Renzo Cestiè, who is retiring. “He started working [at the Vatican] at 14 and came by bicycle; today, he is the driver of the Pope," explained the pontiff, triggering a round of applause for this 67-year-old layman.
In 2016, Renzo Cestiè was interviewed by the British daily The Guardian. He confided his admiration for his "boss," sharing what it is like to meet Francis' gaze.
A "quiet passenger"
Recognizing that his job could be dangerous, the Pope's driver declared that he felt no fear: "If it happens, we go to paradise," he said to the British daily.
He praised the Pope's sense of humanity.
For him, "we are all the same," he explained then, "we are people who collaborate with him."
During the General Audience, Pope Francis praised the fidelity of his driver.
