Pope Given Ferrari Steering Wheel

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Italian carmaker Ferrari gave
Pope Benedict the steering wheel to one of their Formula One racing cars on Monday, honoring the man in the driving seat of the Roman Catholic Church.

In a private audience in the
Vatican, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo gave the Pope the souvenir inscribed with the words: "The steering wheel of the Formula 1 World Champion to His Holiness Benedict XVI, the driver of Christianity."

Montezemolo also handed over a cheque for 950,000 euros for charity, proceeds from the auction of a Ferrari car which fetched 150 percent of its normal list price.

In January, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher presented the late
Pope John Paul with a 1:5 scale model of the car which won both the championship and constructor titles in 2004.

After winning six constructors' championships in a row, Ferrari's fortunes waned in 2005 when it ended the season just third in both the constructors' and drivers' title races.

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