A white Lamborghini Huracan sports car, with yellow-gold detailing, was given to Pope Francis this Wednesday morning, November 15, 2017, in front of Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican by the management of Sant’Agata Bolognese Automobile company (Italy).
The exotic sports car, which the Pope blessed, can reach 325 kilometers per hour. It’s valued at some 210,000 euros, and will be sold at auction by Sotheby’s. The Pontiff signed the car’s trunk.
The sum reported will contribute to the financing of projects of the Pope John XXIII Community, for the liberation of women from forced prostitution – 7,000 young women were received by the Community –, as well as projects in Central Africa, and of Aid to the Church in Need in Iraq, in the Nineveh Plains, devastated by Daech and war.
The project of Aid to the Church in Need is geared to “guarantee the return of Christians to the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, thanks to the reconstruction of dwellings, public structures and places of worship,” specified the Vatican.
The John XXIII Community plans the building of a house dedicated to Pope Francis – “Casa Papa Francesco “ – on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the death of the Founder, Father Oreste Benzi and for the 50th anniversary of the foundation (2018).
The Pope will allocate part of the proceeds of the sale to two other Italian Associations engaged especially in Africa: Professor Marco Lanzetta’s Gicam (surgery of the hand) and “Friends of Central Africa” with aid projects primarily for women and children.
It’s a tradition of car companies to offer cars to Popes – or other vehicles, such as an ambulance for the gatherings in St. Peter’s Square: BMW and Renault, for instance, have done so, or individuals, such as the “Renault 4” given to the Pope by an Italian parish priest.
A motorcycle was given to the Pope during a gathering of bikers in St. Peter’s Square on June 16, 2013. It was auctioned in 2014 and the proceeds went to Caritas: the Pope signed the Harley Davidson’s tank before the auction at Bonham’s in Paris, France. The purchaser paid 57,500 euros.
A Volkswagen that belonged to Cardinal Ratzinger also brought money to its owner, who put it up for sale after Benedict XVI’s election.
JF
