10 Expensive Things Associated with the Pope

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10. White & Gold Lamborghini Huracan

Before you ask, NO, Pope Francis did not go out and by a White and Gold special edition Lamborghini Huracan from his local dealership.

The car was officially created for him in homage to the Vatican and was auctioned off with the final price coming in at £630,000 pounds.

The car was painted with a special livery based on the city state’s flag and was presented to the Pope by the head of Lamborghini at the Vatican.

The pope blessed and signed the car, which was auctioned at RM Sotheby’s Monte Carlo Grimaldi Forum.

The proceeds raised by the auction were divided between three good causes, aiding the Christian community in Iraq, the Pope John XXIII Community that aids the victims of trafficking and abuse and Italian associations that aid women and children in Africa.

9. The Vatican Private Residence

Known in official terms as the Apostolic Palace, it is the official residence of the Roman Catholic Pope and Bishop of Rome, which is located in Vatican City.

The Pope's main apartments are located on two sides of the third (top) floor of the Apostolic Palace and the whole building wraps around a courtyard.

The apartments include about ten large rooms including a vestibule, a small studio office for the papal secretary, the pope's private study and the pope's bedroom in the corner of the building.

There is a medical suite (which includes dental equipment and equipment for emergency surgery), a dining room, a small living room, and the kitchen.

8. The Ring of the Fisherman

Also known as the Piscatory Ring, is an official part of the regalia worn by the Pope, who is head of the Catholic Church and successor of Saint Peter who was a fisherman by trade.

The ring was used as a signet until 1842 to seal official documents signed by the Pope and a new ring is cast for each pope who is voted into office.

During the ceremony of a Papal coronation or Papal inauguration, the Cardinal camerlengo slips the ring on the ring finger of the new Pope's right hand.

Upon a papal death, the ring used to be ceremonially destroyed using a hammer in the presence of other Cardinals and was done to prevent the issuance of forged documents.

Today, the destruction of the ring's device with deep scratches is a symbol of the end of the rule of the pope who used to wear that ring.

7. Private Airport

The Pope's private airport, also known as the Vatican City Heliport, consists of an 82 by 56 foot rectangular concrete landing area linked with a circular parking area.

The heliport is at 246 ft above sea level, in the French-style portion of the Vatican Gardens and is used for minor transportation of both the Pope and visiting heads of state.

It was constructed in 1976 under Pope Paul VI (1963–1978), facilitating transfers between Vatican City and the summer papal residence at Castel Gandolfo for occasions such as the regular Wednesday general audience.

Worldwide publicity was given to the heliport on the afternoon of 28 February 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI departed Vatican City for Castel Gandolfo mere hours before his resignation took effect.

6. Papal Tiara

Worn by pope's throughout the ages, this holy hat was last used by Pope Paul VI in 1963 and only at the beginning of his reign.

The name "tiara" refers to the entire headpiece, no matter how many crowns, circlets or diadems have adorned it through the ages.

From 1143 to 1963, the papal tiara was solemnly placed on the pope's head during a papal coronation and the surviving papal tiaras are all in the triple form, the oldest being of 1572, and the others no earlier than 1800.

Pope John XXIII blessed the crowds in Vatican Square after his coronation in 1958 and during this, he could be seen wearing the 1877 tiara.

The tiara was often worn in formal ceremonial processions, and on other occasions when the pope was carried on a portable throne whose use was ended by Pope John Paul II immediately after his election in October 1978.

5. Palace of Castel Gandolfo

Every Pope needs a holiday, regardless if he is Christs Bishop or the Overseer of the whole of the Vatican City, and up until 2016, they had access to his very own holiday castle.

Sitting on the shores of Lake Albano, the oldest parts of the castle date back to the 13th century and was acquired by the Vatican in 1596.

Popes have used the properties as a summer residence and vacation retreat, except for the years between 1870 and 1929 when the popes, in dispute with Italy over territorial claims, did not leave Vatican City.

Pope Pius XII died at the palace in 1958, as did Pope Paul VI in 1978, while rather controversial, Pope John Paul II had a swimming pool built at the palace.

On 21 October 2016, it was opened to the public for viewing as a museum with its official status as a Papal Residence discontinued.

4. Private Jet

The pope needs access to many overseas destinations for official visits, and to do this he has access to his very own Jumbo Jet.

Well, we say his very own, the Vatican actually does charter the planes, however when the pope flies on a jet it carries the call sign Shepherd One, which is basically the holy version of air force one.

His Holiness has, however, laid claim to a flight number, AZ4000 and although these days Pope Francis flies only Business Class on his plane, Pope John Paul used to have access to a double bed on-board.

Since 2013 Pope Francis has flown to five continents and 34 different countries, and that’s only counting official visits.

3. Popemobile

Frequently seen when the Pope goes on tours of other countries and also when he visits crowds in Vatican Square, this vehicle allows the Pope to be seen everywhere he goes.

There have been many different designs for popemobiles since Pope Paul VI first used a modified Lincoln Continental to greet crowds in New York City in 1965.

The car is fitted with bulletproof windows on the front and sides after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II on Wednesday, 13 May 1981, in St. Peter's Square.

The vehicle registration plates of Vatican City all begin with the letters "SCV," an abbreviation of the Latin Status Civitatis Vaticanae or "Vatican City State," followed by the vehicle fleet number.

Leyland Motors supplied a truck-based popemobile in 1982 during the pope's visit to Great Britain which gave audiences a better view of the pontiff and the vehicle was sold at auction in 2006 for $70,500.

2. Personal Helicopter

The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium-sized twin-engined helicopter that has been used in many different activities.

These include VIP/corporate transport, offshore transport, fire fighting, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical service, disaster relief, and maritime patrol.

The chosen aircraft of the Pope up until 2012, it was used for short travels to and from airports and his own helipad in the Vatican

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is today's choice of helicopter for the Pope and it features the world's first amphibious helicopter and one of the first ASW rotorcraft to use turboshaft engines

The current value of the Pope's current helicopter is thought to be around $6.4 million dollars.

1. The Pontifical Swiss Guard

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is a small force maintained by the Holy See that is responsible for the safety of the Pope, including the security of the Apostolic Palace.

The force currently contains 135 men and is one of the oldest military units in continuous operation with it also serves as the de facto military of Vatican City.

Recruits to the guards must be unmarried Swiss Catholic males between 19 and 30 years of age who have completed basic training with the Swiss Armed Forces.

With regards to weapons, the guards can carry a number of them and they vary from rank to rank with everything from partisan polearm's to dress swords and bodyguards are equipped with the SIG P220 pistol and the SIG SG 550 rifle.

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