A car used by Pope Francisco in Panama in 2019on the occasion of the World Youth Daywill be raffled to raise funds for social programsthe Catholic Church announced this Thursday the 2nd.
The vehicle, a toyota prius of blue color of 2019 with a distance of 14,000 kilometers, will be raffled off to alleviate the decrease in the income of the Church due to the pandemic of COVID-19said the archbishop of the Panamanian capital, Jose Domingo Ulloaat a press conference.
“That car is really very special, the pope used to go there” when he traveled before and after going aboard the white “popemobile” at mass events, Ulloa said.
The goal is to raise one 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 is a car for everyone, even for non-believers because it has historical significance,” said Ulloa, adding that the financial situation of the Archdiocese “is difficult.”
The Argentine Pope visited Panama from January 23 to 27, 2019. The World Day closing mass 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 has only been used for some administrative tasks, but the drop in income has led the Archdiocese to raffle it.
“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy has suffered. Just as income in all organizations and in homes have decreased, the Church does not escape this reality,” said Víctor Chang, comptroller. of the Archdiocese.
“The collection has not reached the levels of before the pandemic,” said Felipe Fábrega, general director of the campaign.
“As a result 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.
Source-larepublica.pe