Ferrari entourage honors pope for '26 years in the pole position'

Published: 2005-01-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Dark suits and red ties replaced red jumpsuits and helmets when Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello met Pope John Paul II. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, told the pope Jan. 17 that the Italian carmaker wanted to honor him for "26 years in the pole position on the roads of humanity." Presenting the pope with a three-foot long model of the famous red Ferrari Formula One racer, Montezemolo told the pope his company tried to operate according to Catholic social principles with teamwork, creativity, research and enthusiasm. In his speech to Montezemolo, the drivers and Ferrari mechanics, the pope offered special congratulations to Schumacher, who won the 2004 Formula One world title. The German driver has won the championship seven times, five of them behind the wheel of a Ferrari. Pope John Paul told the members of the Ferrari squad that their success in sports and in manufacturing was particularly a result of the enthusiasm that flows from teamwork.

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