He was friends with two Pontiffs declared Saints, as demonstrated by the photos and memorabilia in the world's largest private sports museum. Despite this, imagine Ivano Fanini's surprise when Don Alex Martinelli and Don Michel Fabbrini arrived, accompanying Bishop Monsignor Paolo Giulietti, who explained his presence: "I began my pastoral visit to the Capannori parish community by visiting the Amore & Vita headquarters, an experience of great sporting and moral value. I was surprised to see Fanini's encounters with John Paul II and I was happy to learn more about the story of this beautiful Fanini family reality."

The entrepreneur accompanied Monsignor Giulietti through the museum, rich with trophies, jerseys, cups, photos, and memorabilia. The Bishop also inquired about the velodrome situation he had read about online and in various newspapers. Fanini showed various projects and technical details received from Canada, from industrialist Peter Junek, who builds these types of facilities.

Fanini spoke about the message of "Amore & Vita", whose name was coined by Pope John Paul II himself. But first came Paul VI. "In 1971, I first set foot in the Vatican," Fanini recalls - then this event occurred on 25 other official occasions (the team presentation was held there every year) and I will never forget Paul VI, who arrived in his reserved car, which was parked next to my team car. He got out and immediately came among us to meet our young riders. I was twenty years old, and that encounter was revealing of my future."

Subsequently, the more lasting friendship was with John Paul II. An indissoluble bond, an umbilical cord never severed. "In practice, we together founded Amore & Vita," Ivano Fanini recounts, "which represented not just a team, but above all a life philosophy. We met in 1982, thanks to an exceptional person like Don Franco Baroni. The Polish Pope had a special light, he emanated positive energy. Many educational messages were spread through our team's jerseys, starting with the message of No to abortion. A hot topic that also brought us some difficult moments. At the start of the Milano-Vignola, a group of feminists contested us at the departure in Milan's Duomo square."