Gifts received by Pope Francis to be raffled off to help the poor

[UrbScotty]

It really ought not to be news, but given the worldly tenor of the Vatican down the centuries, it is: Pope Francis is raffling the gifts that have been showered on him to raise money for the down-and-outs who bed down in the environs of the world’s tiniest – but far from poorest – state.

In recent days, posters have gone up on walls around the Vatican advertising a draw. The tickets are only €10, yet the first prize is a brand spanking new Fiat Panda 4x4 – with all optional extras.

The car, sprayed papal white, is worth more than £15,000 new. But that is without the cachet that comes with having been the property of one careful owner who is also Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church. Such things count for a lot on eBay.

Other prizes include a light blue racing bike, a ballpoint pen and a panama hat.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/18/pope-francis-raffle-gifts-money-poor

[rug]

1. Excellent.