POPE’S LAMBORGHINI UP FOR AUCTION TO BENEFIT CHARITY
Papal Raging Bull worth roughly $1.2 million being offered up as raffle prize for charity
A one-off Lamborghini Huracán the supercar manufacturer gifted to His Holiness Pope Francis is up for grabs for the second time in less than a year, after the sale that saw it fetch US$917,000 ($1.2 million) at auction in May 2018 fell apart.
This time, the car’s sale will be conducted more democratically, via a raffle, with tickets starting at $10 and proceeds going to benefit several international children’s aid efforts.
The Lamborghini, “blessed and signed by Pope Francis,” will see its new owner handed the keys personally by the Pontiff, as well as by Lamborghini chief executive Stefano Domenicali, at a private event at the Vatican. Flights, hotels and even the taxes on the prize are all paid for, according to raffle organizer Omaze.
Pope Francis was initially gifted the Lamborghini by its maker in November 2017; it was auctioned in May 2018 in Monaco at a high-end car sale hosted by Ontario, Canada-based RM Sotheby’s.
While Huracáns start at around US$200,000, the white-with-goldtrim one-off netted US$917,000 when it crossed the block in May.
However, the top bidder apparently did not finalize their purchase, and the sale later fell through.
The car’s sale via raffle will benefit Charities Aid Foundation of America and its work to help children “that have been devastated by violence and war,” as well as to “assist victims of human trafficking (and) provide medical care and education to those living in poverty.”