Pope Elections: Unearthing Bizarre Gifts Bestowed upon the Highest Clerics
Popes: A Glimpse into Their Unique Gift Receiving Tradition, Featuring Popes Francis and Benedict XVI
(Cover Photography: © Sebastien Desarmaux / Getty Images) By Pierre Fougères Unveiled on
Beyond the grandeur of their office, popes enjoy some perks too. Throughout their pontificate, they might receive numerous gifts, some traditional, others quite unorthodox or bizarre. Let's dive into the unique gifts received by Popes Francis and Benedict XVI.
Panache with a Punch
Pope Francis, hailing from Argentina, has experienced distinctive gestures. In 2021, French Prime Minister Jean Castex surprised him with a personally signed Lionel Messi Paris Saint-Germain jersey—a remarkable gift without parallel in this story. Contrasting this, Bolivian President Evo Morales, in 2015, presented a controversial crucifix adorned with a sickle and hammer.
Notable but more palatable gifts also graced Pope Francis' presence. In 2017, he received a Lamborghini Huracán from the automaker, although it ultimately found a new home for 715,000 euros. In an exhibit of solidarity, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave him a bulletproof vest used by one of his soldiers in 2021.
Under the Vatican Seal: Insights on the Conclave
Trump's Climate Encyclical!
Lavish gifts weren't lacking for Pope Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI. In 2010, then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy gifted his book La République, les religions, l'espérance to him.
During their service, Vatican officials also offered gifts, not always conventional but often symbolic. In 2017, Pope Francis endowed Donald Trump, a climate skeptic, with an encyclical spanning over 200 pages discussing environmental matters and climate change, a rather unexpected gift.
Popes and their Treasured Gifts
POPE FRANCIS: The Memorable and Valuable
Throughout his 12-year pontificate, Pope Francis has received thousands of gifts, many of them extraordinary. Highlights include:
- Harley-Davidson Motorcycles—even in Vatican hues
- Drones—also imprinted with Vatican colors
- A Communist Cross from Evo Morales
- Handmade Mate from former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner
- An Olive Plant from Lionel Messi
- Kinder Eggs
These gifts offer a glimpse into the culture, values, and political relations of the gift-givers, each telling a captivating story beyond their material worth.
POPE BENEDICT XVI: Significant Gifts
While sources prioritize Pope Francis, we know that Pope Benedict XVI has also received memorable gifts such as rare books, religious artifacts, and various technological items like iPods and computers. Though specific unusual gifts are scarce or undocumented in the current research.
Gifts Galore: The Evolving Legacy of Popes
The gifts received by popes surpass mere accumulation of material items. They represent symbolic overtures that mirror the relationships between the Church, world leaders, and the global community. Every gift has a story to tell—one of culture, politics, or personal connections, eventually becoming a piece in the legacy of their pontificate [1].
A Compendium of Papal Gifts
| Pope | Unforgettable Gifts Received ||-------------|----------------------------------------------------|| Francis | Harley-Davidson motorcycles, drones (Vatican colors), communist cross from Evo Morales, handmade mate from Cristina Kirchner, olive plant from Lionel Messi, Kinder eggs || Benedict XVI | Rare books, religious artifacts, technological items (iPods, computers, etc.) — unusual gifts details are sparse in the provided sources |
These extraordinary gifts offer a fascinating look into the diverse spheres and relationships that modern popes navigate in the globalized world.
[1] Based on available enrichment data.
- Notably, Pope Francis, the Argentine Pope, has received a uniquely diverse assortment of gifts, such as a personally signed Lionel Messi Paris Saint-Germain jersey, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, drones, and an olive plant.
- Pope Benedict XVI, on the other hand, received notable gifts like rare books, religious artifacts, and technological items such as iPods and computers during his papal service.
- Messi, the acclaimed soccer player, notably presented Pope Francis with an olive plant, adding to the Pope's collection of memorable gifts.
- Gifts received by popes serve a symbolic purpose beyond mere material worth, reflecting relationships between the Church, world leaders, and the global community, and become integral parts of their legacy.
