'Popemobile Sport,' Cool Car Of Pope Francis, Up For Auction In Philly

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The Popemobile is hitting the auction block. And this isn’t the white, boxy, high-roofed, protective — and, yes, ugly — transportation popes have used since John Paul II was shot.

This is a sports Popemobile.

The FIAT 500Ls used by Pope Francis during his historic visit to the area last September will be sold off for charity, the World Meeting of Families announced in a statement Wednesday.

The public auction will take place during the annual Philadelphia Auto Show Black Tie Tailgate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

This year’s event is on Friday, January 29 at 9:00 p.m.

The auction will be conducted by Max Spann Real Estate & Auction Co. and it will allow for both in-person and remote bidding, organizers said.

The Black Tie Tailgate as a whole will continue to support The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) through the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, as it does every year.

However, the auction of Pope Francis’ Philly FIAT will benefit select ministries and missions of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Francis’ “Popemobile-Sport” was seen as a humble choice of vehicles when he arrived in the United States. In keeping with his reputation as the “people’s Pope,” he eschewed limousines and more elegant rides with bulletproof glass for the relatively proletarian ride.

The FIAT is made in Italy, so Francis’ ride, like him, was an emissary from that part of the world.

Officials would not say what the bidding will start at, but it could very well sell for ten or twenty times more than the roughly $20,000 which a new model fetches.

A Harley Davidson previously owned by Francis was sold at a 2014 Paris auction for $327,000, according to Philly.com.

The previous pontiff, Pope Pope Benedict XVI, had his 1999 Volkswagen Golf purchased in a 2014 eBay auction for a whopping $244,590.83.

In addition to this special auction, the second FIAT 500L used by Pope Francis in Philadelphia will be on display to the general public for the duration of the Philadelphia Auto Show. That show is set for Saturday, January 30 through Sunday, February 7.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said that they may choose elect to auction this second vehicle during the Black Tie Tailgate as well, but still allow it to remain on display through the close of the Auto Show.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located on Broad and Cherry Streets.

Image of a model FIAT 500L courtesy Fletcher6 via Commons.