Pope Leo XIV has never been one to shy away from the intersection of faith and the modern world, but even seasoned Vatican watchers were surprised on September 26, 2025, when the pontiff received an unusual and high-octane gift: a Formula 1 steering wheel used by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The private event at the Vatican, as reported by Motorsport.com, was more than just a ceremonial exchange—it was a moment that blended the thrill of motorsport with the gravitas of papal tradition, all under the watchful eyes of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and his wife, Donna Lavinia Borromeo.
Elkann, who also chairs the automotive giant Stellantis (which owns Jeep, among other brands), presented the steering wheel to Pope Leo XIV with a flourish. "A steering wheel… so this is really used," Elkann remarked, holding the intricate piece of racing technology before the pontiff. The Pope, always curious, examined the device closely and asked, "So this is a real steering wheel from a real car?" Elkann confirmed without hesitation: "This is real. It was really used." For a moment, the Vatican’s stately halls echoed with the energy of the racetrack, as the leader of the Catholic Church held a piece of machinery that not long ago controlled a Ferrari at blistering speeds.
But the surprises didn’t end there. Elkann also presented a scale model of the Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale—a car owned by Leclerc himself. As he handed over the model, Elkann noted it was "to remind you of your passion for driving." The pontiff, who is known to have an appreciation for cars, was visibly delighted by both offerings. While it remains unclear if these gifts will eventually join the Vatican’s public displays, they already have a place in the annals of memorable papal moments.
This isn’t the first time Ferrari has made its mark on Vatican history. According to Motorsport.com, Michael Schumacher’s 2003 Ferrari steering wheel is proudly displayed in the Carriage Pavilion (Padiglione delle Carrozze) at the Vatican Museums. The inscription reads: "The steering wheel of the F1 World Champion to His Holiness Benedict XVI, pilot of Christianity." Schumacher’s wheel was presented to Pope Benedict XVI on December 6, 2005, by then-Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. The symbolism was clear: the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics, likened to a driver at the helm of a global flock.
Pope Benedict XVI’s connection to Ferrari didn’t stop at memorabilia. He was also gifted a Ferrari Enzo—one of only 400 ever made. In a gesture that underscored the Church’s commitment to charity, Benedict later auctioned the supercar, donating the proceeds to victims of the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. These moments, blending luxury, compassion, and faith, have become part of the Vatican’s modern narrative.
After the latest round of gift-giving, there was a lighter moment as Pope Leo XIV led Elkann outside to show off his own Jeep—a subtle nod to the fact that Jeep is part of the Stellantis family, the same automotive empire helmed by Elkann. This casual exchange, captured on video and quickly shared across social media, provided a glimpse of the Pope’s down-to-earth personality. Within hours, the video had garnered 2,000 upvotes on Reddit’s Formula 1 page, drawing fans from across the globe into this unlikely meeting of motorsport and spirituality.
But Pope Leo XIV’s week wasn’t just about high-profile gifts. The very next day, on September 27, 2025, the Vatican announced the theme for the upcoming 34th World Day of the Sick, set for February 11, 2026. According to a press release cited by ACI Prensa and CNA, the theme—"The Compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by Bearing the Pain of Others"—draws directly from the Gospel figure of the Good Samaritan. The Holy See explained that this theme is meant to highlight the need for concrete gestures of love and closeness, especially towards those who are ill and also suffer from poverty, isolation, or loneliness.
“The theme focuses on the Gospel figure of the Good Samaritan, who shows love by taking care of the wounded and abandoned man on the road,” the Vatican’s statement read. In choosing this theme, Pope Leo XIV is urging the global Catholic community to move beyond words and embrace tangible acts of solidarity. The message is clear: true compassion means not just feeling sympathy, but actively sharing in the suffering of others.
The Holy See emphasized that Christ, the "Good Samaritan," continues to comfort wounded humanity even today, especially through the sacraments of the Church. "Through the sacraments of the Church, [He] pours out the oil of consolation and the wine of hope," the statement continued. These words serve as a reminder that faith, for Pope Leo XIV and the Church he leads, is inseparable from action—especially when it comes to caring for society’s most vulnerable.
The World Day of the Sick, first instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992, has always been a moment for reflection and renewed commitment to those suffering from illness. But with the 2026 theme, Pope Leo XIV appears to be doubling down on the call for hands-on compassion. The Vatican’s press release underscored this, stating that the Church is called to "inspire actions and gestures of help and closeness for those who live in conditions of fragility due to illness." The focus is not just on the physical dimension of sickness, but on the broader experience of vulnerability—poverty, isolation, and loneliness all included.
In a world that often seems obsessed with speed, technology, and spectacle, these two events at the Vatican—one steeped in the adrenaline of Formula 1, the other in the quiet dignity of service—might seem worlds apart. Yet, as the past week showed, they are in fact deeply connected. Both moments reflect the Church’s ongoing effort to remain relevant and engaged in contemporary life, whether by welcoming the symbols of modern achievement or by championing the timeless values of compassion and solidarity.
The Ferrari steering wheel, now part of Vatican lore, is a testament to the ways in which tradition and innovation can coexist. Meanwhile, the theme for World Day of the Sick 2026 is a clarion call for believers and non-believers alike: in a fractured world, the greatest victories are not won on the racetrack, but in the daily acts of kindness that bind humanity together.
With the world watching, Pope Leo XIV continues to steer the Church along a path that honors both its rich history and its responsibility to the present. Whether in the embrace of a Formula 1 artifact or the embrace of the suffering, the message from the Vatican this week is unmistakable: compassion, like faith, is best expressed in action.
