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Ferrari to make Pope a car

From correspondents in Rome
October 14, 2004

FERRARI president Luca Montezemolo said today the Italian Formula One team would build a special car for Pope John Paul II to mark his 26 years as pontiff.

"We will make a Ferrari Formula One car especially for the pope," Mr Montezemolo told reporters on a visit to the Vatican.

However, Mr Montezemolo drew the line at changing the colour of the car from its customary red to a different shade that the pontiff might prefer.

"The Pope would not be best pleased to see a Ferrari that wasn't a Ferrari," he remarked.

Mr Montezemolo recalled his previous meetings with the Pope before Ferrari were the dominant force in motor racing.

"I had the honour of meeting His Holiness on two occasions, first of all when I was involved in organising the (football) World Cup in 1990 and then on the testing track at Fiorano where he had a ride in a Ferrari," he said.

"That was when Ferrari were not having great success and the least I can do to show my appreciation is construct a special Ferrari car for him."

Pope John Paul II will celebrate his 26th anniversary as head of the Catholic Church on Saturday.