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Ferrari gifts Pope Leo XIV with new Luce... steering wheel

Drive

Ferrari gifts Pope Leo XIV with new Luce... steering wheel

By Inigo Roces

At A Glance

The first, all-electric Ferrari was presented to the Pontiff at Castel Gandolfo, just a day after it was unveiled to the world.
As a tribute, Ferrari Chairman, John Elkann, donated the car's steering wheel to the Pontiff.

Pope Leo XIV may be the envy of car enthusiasts all over the world, being one of the first people to see the highly-anticipated Ferrari Luce in the metal. The first, all-electric Ferrari was presented to the Pontiff at Castel Gandolfo, just a day after it was unveiled to the world.

A Ferrari delegation, led by Chairman, John Elkann, and Chief Executive Officer, Benedetto Vigna, together with other company executives and engineers, was received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the residence in Castel Gandolfo.

Chairman Elkann commented: “It was a great emotion and an immense honor to meet His Holiness together with my Ferrari colleagues. This was a moment of extraordinary human and symbolic value, inspiring all the people in our Company to continue their journey with passion, responsibility, and confidence in the future. An occasion that will remain forever in our memories, and in Ferrari’s history.”

Unfortunately, the EUR 520,000 electric supercar was not donated to the Catholic Church. During the meeting, the new Ferrari Luce was presented; as a tribute, John Elkann donated the car’s steering wheel to the Pontiff.

Nonetheless, it's quite rare for a supercar to be so warmly received by any Pontiff even for just an afternoon. The Pope may not be rolling around in a prancing horse any time soon, but at the very least, the vehicle's beautifully designed wheel, penned by Apple's Jony Ive no less, is now adorning the Pope's residence.

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