Cars, Ferrari

Ferrari gifts Pope Leo XIV a working F1 steering wheel from Charles Leclerc's car

Published on Oct 01, 2025 at 6:06 AM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara

Last updated on Sep 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

Ferrari has just gifted Pope Leo XIV a very special F1 gift.

It is, in fact, a working F1 steering wheel.

But it’s not just any old steering wheel.

Because it is a working F1 steering wheel from Charles Leclerc’s car.

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Pope Leo XIV gifted an F1 steering wheel from Charles Leclerc’s car

Pope Leo XIV appears to be a big fan of things that go fast.

His Holiness has previously been presented with quite a lot of vehicle-based offerings.

The Bishop of Rome recently offered his blessing and signature to a BMW motorcycle for auction.

And now he has been presented with a very special gift from the world of F1.

Ferrari chairman John Elkann recently enjoyed a visit to the Vatican.

Elkann, joined by his wife, had the honor of meeting the Pope during a private event.

And a fascinating video posted by Rome Reports shows the interaction between the two.

The video shows the Ferrari chairman gifting Pope Leo XIV a very special item.

It is a working F1 steering wheel from Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari car.

“A steering wheel… so this is really used,” the Ferrari chairman said.

“So this is a real steering wheel from a real car?” the Pope asked.

“This is real. It was really used,” Elkann confirmed.  

Ferrari chairman Elkann also presented Pope Leo XIV with another special gift.

He presented a scale model of the Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale.

“To remind you of your passion for driving,” Elkann explained.

Maranello has a strong presence in the Vatican

For those who don’t know, this special gift isn’t the first Ferrari gift in the Vatican.

Michael Schumacher’s 2003 Ferrari wheel is on display in the Carriage Pavilion (Padiglione delle Carrozze).

It was presented to Pope Benedict XVI on 6 December 2005 by then-president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. 

Ferrari chairman John Elkann recently gifted Pope Leo XIV a working F1 steering wheel from Charles Leclerc's car
Ferrari

Alongside this, the then-Pope was also given a Ferrari Enzo, one of just 400 in the world.

He would later auction it, with the proceeds being donated to the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Perhaps His Holiness Pope Leo XIV might make a visit to Maranello one day…

Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.