Car-itas

BERLIN (AFP) - Interest in Pope Benedict XVI's old Volkswagen, currently on offer on eBay Germany, has smashed all records for the Internet auction site with nearly four million hits, the company said.

" It was viewed more often than any other item we have ever had on eBay Germany," the Berlin headquarters said.

The bidding for the metallic gray 1999 Golf IV in mint condition started at 9,999 euros (about 12,800 dollars), and by Monday, with more than 136 registered offers, had reached 62,595 euros.

Because the auction is not due to end until Thursday -- Ascension Day -- eBay expects the price to continue to rise.

The Golf is being offered by Benjamin Halbe, 21, who bought it in January from a used car dealer having no idea that its previous owner, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, would become pope.

"It's a heavenly ride," Halbe said. [Source]

Well not all people thinks that it is a heavenly ride. I can imagine some on the left taking a test drive and reporting that it's seating is hard and rigid while others will be pleased that it's steering is unable to make left turns or complete u-turns - though it can continue to drive deeper into mysteries.

It does make me wonder if one day Pope Benedict is canonized a saint whether this car then becomes a relic? Now that would be pretty POD to be able to drive around in a relic. Even cooler would be the need for a reliquary door opener for when you come home to park the car in the reliquary. And if somebody calls your old car a relic you can say "Thank you."

To bad this is happening on ebay which has turned to the dark side in its refusal to outright deny the sale of consecrated hosts.

Update: eBay has changed their policy to prevent this from happening in the future.