Pope Francis to auction off gifts to help the poor

Pope Francis is raffling off gifts including a Fiat Panda, tandem bike and coffee machine to raise money for the homeless.

For just 10 euros (N$138) those hoping to get their clutches on perfume, pens and even a panama hat given to the pope can enter a draw, the proceeds of which will go to a papal charity set up to help those who bed down nightly around the Vatican.

Tickets are to be sold throughout the upcoming festive season and signs have already gone up around the tiny city state advertising the draw, which will take place on 8 January.

While the first prize is a gleaming Fiat Panda 4×4 in papal white, runners up could go home with racing bicycles, an HD digital video camera, a gentleman’s wrist watch, an umbrella or bottle of perfume – all of which will have much higher-than-usual value because of where they come from.

The Argentine pope – who chose his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi and his devotion to the poor – has cast off luxuries such as the ermine-trimmed cape and red shoes worn by his predecessor Benedict XVI and focused his efforts on helping the down-and-out.

He is also unlikely to have room to keep the hundreds of presents bestowed on him in his modest apartment, having opted out of moving into the spacious papal palace after his election last year.

In February, the 77-year-old pope sold off his Harley Davidson – worth around 15 000 euros (N$208 024) and inscribed with his name – for 241 500 euros (N$3,4 million) at a Paris auction, giving the proceeds to a hostel and soup kitchen in Rome.

He also appointed a papal almoner, Polish archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who helps those who regularly sleep rough among the porticos near Saint Peter’s Square, or poor families struggling to pay their bills.

Krajewski announced last week that the Vatican would install showers for the homeless at public toilets just off St Peter’s square.

Widely known as father Konrad despite his lofty position, Krajewski launched his initiative after a chance meeting with a homeless man from Sardinia, on one of the main streets leading to St Peter’s in October.

The archbishop had just come from hearing confessions in the Church of the Holy Spirit and was in contemplative mood as he strolled down the Via della Conciliazione and bumped into the man.

“He told me that he was turning 50 that day and that he had been living on the street for 10 years,” Krajewski recalled in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa.

Moved, Krajewski issued an impromptu invitation to dinner which his new acquaintance initially declined, saying simply: “Puzzo” (I smell).

Clerical persuasion prevailed however and over a Chinese meal, the man explained that while Rome was good at ensuring the homeless do not go hungry, staying clean was more complicated.

Krajewski promptly sprung into action. A construction firm volunteered to install the showers in parishes that did not already have them and a substantial donation from celebrated Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also helped.

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