Pope Francis’s Personal Camera Auctioned for $7.5 Million
Pope Francis’s Leica M-A Camera Auctioned for Record $7.5 Million
In a stunning auction event, the Leica M-A film camera owned by the late Pope Francis fetched an astonishing $7.5 million, breaking nearly 100 times its estimated pre-sale value. This extraordinary sale took place at a European auction over the weekend and stands as one of the most expensive Leica models ever sold. For comparison, the record-holder remains a 100-year-old Leica prototype that sold for a staggering $16.7 million in 2022.
The camera, a gift to Pope Francis prior to his passing last year, was auctioned with proceeds designated for charity, aligning with the pontiff’s commitment to charitable and social causes. The auction house, Leitz Photographica Auction, announced the sale in September, describing the mechanical camera as one of the most valuable auction items in their history.
Leica presented the customized M-A film camera to Pope Francis, complete with a Noctilus-M 50 mm lens. The camera’s unique design boasts features that set it apart from the standard model. These include a special serial number engraved as 5000000, a distinction highly prized by collectors. The camera’s striking white top plate bears the engraving of Pope Francis’s motto, “miserando atque eligendo,” meaning “by having mercy and choosing,” a reference drawn from Saint Bede the Venerable’s homily on the call of Saint Matthew.
Additional elements that add to the camera’s uniqueness include body and lens caps adorned with the Coat of Arms of the State of Vatican City, topped with engravings of the keys of Peter. The etchings on both camera and lens read “AD MMXXIV,” identifying the year Leica presented the Pope with this exquisite gift.
Despite its subsequent auction, it remains uncertain how extensively Pope Francis utilized this camera, given its relatively short stay in his possession before his death at 88. While Pope Francis didn’t vocalize his personal stance on photography, his appreciation of art and its practitioners was well-documented. In a 2016 address to the Pontifical Academies, he emphasized the crucial role of artists in bringing beauty out of the shadows and into the forefront of daily existence.
The sale of Pope Francis’s Leica M-A not only marks a noteworthy event in the collectibles market but also exemplifies the late pontiff’s enduring legacy through charitable endeavors.