Inequality 18/12/07 Pope to raffle off his white Lamborghini - Luxury car to go up for grabs online after auction sale falls through

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Pope to raffle off his white Lamborghini

Luxury car to go up for grabs online after auction sale falls through

Pope Francis waves as he leaves following his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. (Photo by Filippo Monteforte/AFP)

Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service
Vatican City
December 7, 2018

A custom-built 2018 Lamborghini Huracan coupe autographed by Pope Francis is back on the block, but this time with an online fundraising platform, not at an elite European auction house. The Italian luxury carmaker donated the white vehicle with gold stripes — to match the white and yellow of the Vatican City flag — to the pope in November 2017. The pope had put his diminutive signature on the car's hood, then the vehicle was put up for auction to raise money for charity. However, it turns out the final bidder at the Sotheby's auction in Monaco in May did not finalize the transaction and the promised US$800,000 sale fell through, according to information provided by Lamborghini. In an effort to still raise funds for a good cause, Lamborghini has decided it will offer people around the world — not just the highest bidder — the chance to win the unique vehicle. Donations begin at US$10 in order to enter the contest, according to the campaign at www.omaze.com/experiences/pope-francis-lamborghini. The winner gets a flight ticket to Rome, accommodation in a four-star hotel and a private ceremony of receiving the new car keys "in the presence of Pope Francis and Lamborghini CEO, Stefano Domenicali" at the Vatican, according to the fundraising page. Proceeds were to go to rebuilding villages "that have been devastated by violence and war, assist victims of human trafficking, provide medical care and education to those living in poverty" by being distributed through Charities Aid Foundation of America.