Pope Francis's Camera Sells for $7.5M

"A blindingly white-and-silver Leica camera owned by the late Pope Francis sold at a European auction this weekend for about , nearly 100 times its estimate. It was one of the most expensive Leica models ever sold, according to Leitz Photographica Auction, which announced it would auction the Pope's mechanical camera for charity in September. The record is still held by a 100-year-old prototype that sold for $16.7 million in 2022."

"It carries a distinctive serial number of 5000000, which is valuable to collectors, and its white-painted top plate includes an engraving with Pope Francis's motto miserando atque eligendo (which translates to "by having mercy and choosing," drawn from a homily on the call of Saint Matthew by Saint Bede the Venerable). The flash cover is engraved with the keys of Peter."

Pope Francis's personalized Leica M-A film camera and Noctilus-M 50 mm lens sold at a European auction for about $7 million, nearly 100 times the estimate. Leica presented the white-and-silver camera to the pontiff in 2024; the kit features serial number 5000000, a white-painted top plate engraved with the motto miserando atque eligendo, a flash cover engraved with the keys of Peter, and Vatican Coat of Arms on the body and lens caps. The camera and lens bear an etching reading 'AD MMXXIV'. The proceeds from the auction were designated for charity.

Read at Hyperallergic