The iconic black Fiat 500 that Pope Francis used during his week-long trip in the United States in September, 2015, was sold for $300,000 to Miles Nadal, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, at an auction.
The ‘Popemobile’ was auctioned by the website Charitybuzz.
The new 101-horsepower Fiat 500 Lounge, whose base price is between $19,000 and $21,000 depending on its features, was sold for 12 times its price. Let’s say the greatest feature of the car was its previous owner. People who followed the Pope’s visit would remember seeing him in the humble automobile, dwarfed in size by the armoured security vehicles that accompanied it.
Proceeds from the sale will go towards Catholic schools and charities in the city, as well as to the international organizations Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Near East Welfare Association.
Nadal, a collector of cars and motorcycles, would also meet the archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan who will bless the automobile at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The car also came with a letter of authentication guaranteeing that the US Secret Service confirmed that the Pope indeed used the car. The Charitybuzz auction began on 17 March with a starting bid of $10,500.
