Pope John Paul II’s car to go for €3.7m at auction

THE only car Pope John Paul II was believed to have owned is up for auction, and the seller expects it to attract bids of up to €3.7 million.

The light blue 1975 Ford Escort GL was originally bought at auction in 1996 for €79,000 by Illinois businessman Jim Rich, who is now selling it.

Dean Kruse, president and owner of the auction firm, Kruse International in Auburn, Indiana, said that the car could bring a much higher price when auctioned next month.

The Pope used the money he got for the car to fund the expansion of the Polish Pilgrim Home in Rome and for scholarships and expanding the Catholic University in Lublin, Poland.