# Pope's old car sold on eBay to help fundraise for charity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/05/08/pope039s-old-car-sold-ebay-help-fundraise-charity/
- Published: 2005-05-08T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The 1999 Volkswagen Golf previously owned by Pope Benedict XVI has been sold on 
eBay for €188,938.88 to GoldenPalace.com, the online casino, which says it will 
use it to raise funds for charity.
The item broke all eBay records by receiving 
over 8.5 million visitors to its auction page.

The six-year old car was bought by Benjamin Halbe, aged 21, in January. It was only
when he obtained the car’s registration documents confirming Josef Ratzinger as 
the former owner that he realised the significance of his purchase.

When Halbe listed the car on eBay last week, the reserve price was €9,999 – the 
same amount he paid for it. After that the offers just kept increasing.

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“GoldenPalace.com is delighted to own this holy vehicle,” said GoldenPalace.com 
CEO Richard Rowe. “We have amassed a collection of what many consider to be holy
artifacts. It seems only natural to get a blessed vehicle to carry these items. 
We are planning to showcase our acquisitions by bringing them on tour and allowing
people to enjoy the experience of sitting in the divine car, in an effort to raise
as much money for charity as possible.”

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