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Personalised Lamborghini given to Pope to be auctioned for charity

The Pontiff has been given an upgrade on his Popemobile - a personalised white and gold Lamborghi...
Newstalk
Newstalk

17.12 15 Nov 2017


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Personalised Lamborghini given...

Personalised Lamborghini given to Pope to be auctioned for charity

Newstalk
Newstalk

17.12 15 Nov 2017


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The Pontiff has been given an upgrade on his Popemobile - a personalised white and gold Lamborghini Huracan worth around €200,000.

Pope Francis received the supercar as a gift from Lamborghini, but rather than getting behind the wheel he immediately blessed the vehicle and signed its bonnet in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

He then handed the car over to Sotheby's auctioneers who will sell it and donate the proceeds to charities helping victims of human trafficking, vulnerable women and children on the African continent, and Christians suffering persecution in Iraq.

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A genuine Apostolic Blessing will likely increase its auction value, although it is unknown by how much.

The 610 horsepower Huracan, which was painted white with gold stripes in keeping with Catholic Church traditions, has a top speed of 323 km/h and can go from 0-95 km/h in 3.2 seconds.

But its speed was not enough to convince the Pontiff to abandon his Popemobile, a custom-designed car equipped with a 360-degree viewing box and a throne embroidered with the Pontiff's coat of arms.

It isn't the first time the Pope has been gifted a luxury vehicle. The Pontiff received a Harley Davidson motorbike and jacket in 2014, but auctioned both for charity.

Historically, the Pope travelled in a red silk-covered "sedia gestatoria", carried on shoulders, but the transportable throne was abandoned in favour of the Popemobile in the 20th century.


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