In a moment that perfectly blended the opulence of Italian engineering with the humility of spiritual leadership, Pope Francis received a custom-made Lamborghini Huracán RWD Coupé on 27 November 2017.
Presented to him at the Vatican by executives and workers from Lamborghini, the gleaming sports car was a far cry from the simple Fiat he’s often seen riding in. But the gesture wasn’t about extravagance — it was about charity.
Painted in Bianco Monocerus (white) with Giallo Tiberino (yellow) racing stripes to reflect the colors of the Vatican flag, the Lamborghini was a unique creation from the automaker’s “Ad Personam” customization division. It bore the Pope’s autograph on its hood, a detail that would later add significant value to the vehicle.
Rather than adding the supercar to the papal fleet, Pope Francis chose to auction it off, with all proceeds directed toward charitable causes close to his heart. The car was sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monaco on 12 May 2018, during the Historic Grand Prix weekend. It fetched an astonishing €715,000 — approximately $950,000 at the time.
The funds raised were allocated to four major initiatives:
Aid to the church in need: Focused on rebuilding homes, churches, and public infrastructure in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, where Christian communities were devastated by ISIS.
The Pope John XXIII community: An Italian organization supporting women who have been victims of human trafficking and prostitution. A portion of the funds supported their new refuge initiative, Casa Papa Francesco.
GICAM (Groupe International Chirurgiens Amis de la Main): An Italian NGO specializing in hand surgery and rehabilitation, particularly in developing countries.
Amici per il Centrafrica (Friends of Central Africa): A long-standing organization that funds medical and educational programs for women and children across Central Africa.
This act exemplified Pope Francis’s deep commitment to humanitarian work. Known for rejecting material excess and focusing his papacy on the marginalized, his decision to turn a luxury sports car into a lifeline for those in need resonated across faiths and borders. It was a gesture that spoke volumes — not just about his values, but about the kind of man, pope, and leader he was.
In an age of spectacle and ego, Pope Francis remained a figure of quiet, radical humility. He taught the world that leadership is not measured by what one owns or wears, but by what one gives and the lives one touches. From the Vatican to the Nineveh Plains, the ripples of his compassion extended far beyond the marble walls of St. Peter’s
