Pope Leo XIV gifted Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari F1 steering wheel in Vatican event

Pope Leo XIV has received a Formula 1 steering wheel used by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc during a private event at the Vatican. He also received a scale model of an SF90 XX Stradale, presented by Ferrari chairman John Elkann.

A video published by Rome Reports shows Elkann, joined by his wife Donna Lavinia Borromeo, passing the steering wheel to the Pope, explaining that it is the real deal. 

“A steering wheel… so this is really used,” Elkann said as the pontiff took a closer look at the part. "You’d need to connect it to a car," he continued, pointing at the quick-release system on its underside. 

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

"This is real. It was really used," Elkann confirmed.  

He then presented a scale model of the Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale, a model owned by Leclerc, “to remind you of your passion for driving,” he said.

It is unknown whether both presents will be displayed publicly at the Vatican following this meeting, but the Pope was visibly pleased with the offering. Interestingly, this isn't the only Ferrari steering wheel at the Vatican.

Michael Schumacher's 2003 Ferrari wheel is on display in the Carriage Pavilion (Padiglione delle Carrozze), with the inscription: "Il volante della F1 Campione del Mondo a Sua Santità Benedetto XVI, pilota della cristianità" (The steering wheel of the F1 World Champion to His Holiness Benedict XVI, pilot of Christianity). It was presented to Pope Benedict XVI on 6 December 2005 by then-president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. 

Ferrari F1-75 steering wheel detail

Photo by: Erik Junius

Alongside this, the then-Pope was also given a Ferrari Enzo, one of just 400, which he later auctioned with the proceeds being donated to the victims of the tsunami in South East Asia.

After the gift-giving, the pair later left the building so Pope Leo could show the Ferrari chief his Jeep, a brand that sits under the Stellantis umbrella - a company that Elkann also chairs.

The video has quickly gained momentum on social media, with it receiving 2000 upvotes on Reddit's Formula 1 page.