It’s the holy grail of bling!
Pope Leo XIV will soon receive a massive gold ring, opulent papal apartments and a lavish bulletproof car — a far cry from his humble missionary work and upbringing in suburban Chicago.
When former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is inaugurated at a grand ceremony next week, he’ll be bestowed with the Catholic church’s so-called Fisherman’s Ring — a hulking 24-karat gold band with a reported estimated value of $520,000.
The symbolic jewelry will be engraved with his name and the image of St. Peter the Apostle and placed on his finger during the age-old religious tradition.
The man of God will then be given access to luxurious Papal apartments at Rome’s Apostolic Palace and a cliffside retreat at the palace of Castel Gandolfo — a 135-acre complex with breathtaking views of Lake Albano on the outskirts of Rome — though he has not yet said where he plans to live.
He is also expected to inherit an electric white Mercedes-Benz Popemobile that was built last year and is bullet proof with an estimated value of $500,000.
Pope Leo is known as an advocate for the poor who did tireless missionary work with impoverished farmers in rural Peru and grew up in a modest home in the working class suburbs of Chicago.
His predecessor Pope Francis, who died last month at age 88, opted to live frugally at the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse in Vatican City rather than in the lavish papal apartments.
He also converted the Castel Gandolfo residence into a museum instead of enjoying the stunning cliffside vacation retreat, which boasts a swimming pool and organic farm.
Pope Leo has hinted that he’ll continue Francis’ legacy — but would easily be able to indulge in the upscale real estate.
“It is a decision that is permanent until the Pontiff wants it to remain as such,” Vatican Museum curator Sandro Barbaglio said in 2016.
“This means a future pope can decide to take back the residence, making it private again.”