Pope Francis Receives A Lamborghini But Doesn’t Plan On Keeping It

Italian luxury car manufacturer Lamborghini presented Pope Francis with a personalized supercar on Wednesday. The Catholic authority, however, decided that the white and gold automobile wasn’t really his style, and decided to put the gift up for auction to raise money for charity.

The Huracan sports car has a 610 metric horsepower engine, but its main selling point is that it has been blessed by the pontiff. It even carries his autograph which he scribbled on its gleaming bonnet before being sent off to the Sotheby’s auction house.

This Lamborghini supercar usually sells for 200,000 euros ($237,000), but this is a custom model that features gold stripes and gold-rimmed wing mirrors in homage to the pope’s gold-tipped stole, so it is expected that the price will go considerably up.

The money that it raises will go to four charitable projects, including ACN International (Aid to the Church in Need) a Pontifical foundation whose mission is to help persecuted and oppressed Christians worldwide with prayer, information, and action, the money is expected to help rebuild the homes and churches of persecuted Christians from the Nineveh Plains in Iraq.

The luxury sports car will also fund an Italian association that provides help to victims of human trafficking and prostitution rings. Two organizations operating in Africa that support vulnerable women and children are also expected to be benefited by the sale of the car.

This isn’t the first time that the Latin pope is presented with an extravagant gift like this, back in 2013 Harley Davidson presented his holiness with a custom motorbike and jacket, both of which were also auctioned and the money raised was also given to charity.

The Argentine pontiff is more of a public transportation type of guy and he actually rode the bus one day after his 2013 election instead of taking a limousine, back in his native country he frequently chose the bus over taxis, mostly because it brings him closer to the people.

The pope already owns a car, the famous open-topped popemobile which he uses to move through crowds at masses in the Vatican and in foreign trips, however, security officials have concerns over the safety of him moving around in that vehicle.

Historically, popes used to move around on a “sedia gestatoria”, a ceremonial red silk-covered throne which was carried on shoulders by other bishops, but it was swapped for the popemobile last century.

Article inspired by Adeola Fayehun // Pope Francis gets $237,000 Lamborghini as gift, but he puts it up for auction to raise money for charity