February 2, 2023, 4:47 PM
February 2, 2023, 4:47 PM
A car used by Pope Francis in Panama in 2019 on the occasion of World Youth Day, will be raffled off to raise funds for social programs, the Catholic Church announced Thursday.
The vehicle, a 2019 Blue Toyota Prius With 14,000 kilometers of travel, it will be raffled off to alleviate the decrease in the income of the Church due to the Covid pandemic, said the archbishop of the Panamanian capital, José Domingo Ulloa, at a press conference.
“That car is really very special, the pope was there” in his trips before and after going aboard the white “popemobile” in mass events, indicated Ulloa.
The goal is to raise a million dollars. with this “great solidarity raffle”, in which 100,000 tickets will be put up for sale at $10 each, for a raffle to be held on August 20.
“It’s a car for everyone, even for non-believers because it has a historical meaning”, said Ulloa, who added that the financial situation of the Archdiocese “is difficult”.
The Argentine Pope visited Panama from January 23 to 27, 2019. The closing mass of the World Day brought together more than 700,000 people, according to the organizers. Francisco also visited a detention center for minors and a shelter for people with HIV.
After the papal visit, the vehicle it has only been used in some administrative tasksbut the drop in income has led the Archbishopric to circumvent it.
“As a result of the Covid pandemic, the economy has suffered, and just as income in all organizations and in homes has decreased, the Church does not escape from that reality”said Víctor Chang, comptroller of the Archdiocese.
“The collection has not arrived to pre-pandemic levels,” said Felipe Fábrega, general director of the campaign.
“Product of the pandemic there are many more needs“and the funds obtained from the raffle will serve” to help the most vulnerable and unprotected people, added Fábrega.
The Archbishopric maintains care centers for poor families, soup kitchens and centers for people with HIV, among other social programs.
