Pope Francis, known for his generosity and pious acts, is raffling off a host of items that have been given to him over the years, ranging from a never-used hat to a brand new Fiat car.
Since he was elected Pope in 2013, he has received hundreds of gifts from world leaders and religious devotees.
According to ABC News, there will be 13 items up for grabs, among them a new four-wheel-drive Fiat Panda car, a Homero Ortega hat, a leather suitcase, an espresso machine, a digital camera, a silver picture frame, watches, and bicycles.
Wallets, belts, and shoes are also included in the raffle, although Pope fans may be disappointed to know that the Fiat car is a different set of wheels from the Pope's famous "Popemobile".
In addition to these items, there are more than 30 unspecified "consolation prizes", although there were no specifics on who gave them to the Pope.
According to reports in the Daily Beast, the grand prize will be the fully equipped Fiat car followed by three single-rider bicycles in blue, orange and grey, and a tandem bike. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/18/pope-francis-raffles-off-his-swag-to-help-the-poor.html
The Pope's raffle, which was first publicised at the Vatican around November, is an avenue to raise money supporting the efforts of the Catholic Church to alleviate poverty around the world.
The raffle also aims to aid the homeless, which is close to the Pope's heart. On his last birthday, the Pope received 400 sleeping bags, each sewn with a Vatican seal. These bags were later distributed to the poor and needy in Rome.
For those who are interested in participating, raffle tickets can only be bought from the Vatican in person. Tickets will be sold at the Vatican post office or at the Vatican museum for 10 euros, which is about $12. The winning number will be announced this Thursday on the Vatican website.
