A custom Specialized bicycle presented by former world champion Peter Sagan to Pope Francis in 2018 will be auctioned for charity to benefit the areas of Italy hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The auction, which begins June 8 with the bicycle as the first item, is part of the Pope's "We Run Together" campaign and will include a team jersey, a captain's armband by former Roma forward Francesco Totti, Olympic champion Federica Pellegrini's swimsuit and cap will also be up for auction.

Sagan met Pope Francis in January 2018 and presented him with a signed world champion jersey and a bicycle painted yellow and white, the colors of the Vatican flag.

Funds raised from the auction of the items will be donated to the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo and the Poliambulanza Foundation in Brescia.

The auction will take place on the website Charitystars.com (opens in new tab) for two months, starting on Monday. New items will be introduced each week and each auction will last for 10 days.