Camera of Pope Francis fetches hundredfold of estimated price - Pope Francis’s Rare Leica Camera Fetches €6.5 Million at Vienna Auction
A rare Leica M-A camera once owned by Pope Francis has sold for €6.5 million at an auction in Vienna. The sale took place at the Leitz Photographica Auction, where fierce competition drove the price to record heights. The buyer’s identity remains unknown, but the proceeds will support charitable projects as the late pontiff had requested.
The camera, a Leica M-A with serial number 5000000 on both body and lens, was originally gifted to Pope Francis by Leica Camera AG in 2024. Its auction became one of the most dramatic in the event’s history, with two telephone bidders locked in an intense final showdown.
The €6.5 million raised will now fund charitable initiatives, fulfilling Pope Francis’s wishes. The sale highlights the camera’s unique value, combining historical significance with a rare serial number. The auction’s outcome also sets a notable benchmark for future high-profile memorabilia sales.
