Leica Once Owned by Pope Francis Achieves Six and a Half Million Euros at Leitz Photographica Auction in Vienna

Vienna hosted another remarkable edition of the Leitz Photographica Auction, widely regarded by international collectors as one of the most prestigious platforms for the acquisition of historic cameras. The forty seventh edition, held at the iconic Hotel Imperial, delivered exceptional results, reaffirming the global appetite for rare photographic instruments that unite craftsmanship, heritage and cultural significance.

The undisputed highlight of the auction was the Leica once owned by Pope Francis. Initially estimated between sixty thousand and seventy thousand euros, the unique set soared to an extraordinary final price of six and a half million euros. The result underscores not only the rarity of the piece but also the profound symbolic value attached to it. Entirely in keeping with the legacy of Pope Francis, the full amount will be donated to his personal charitable organisation.

The camera, a Leica M A paired with a Noctilux M 1:1.2 50mm ASPH lens, was presented to His Holiness in 2024 by Leica Camera AG. Both items bear the serial number five million, a milestone traditionally reserved by Leica for distinguished figures. Pope Francis’s decision to offer the set for auction transformed it into far more than a collector’s piece, elevating it to a gesture of generosity and global goodwill.

The bidding, conducted by renowned auctioneer and media personality Wolfgang Pauritsch, quickly surpassed expectations. Several advance bids had already exceeded the estimate before the sale officially opened, setting the tone for what the organisers later described as one of the most exhilarating bidding contests in the history of the auction house.

Additional highlights reflected the continued strength of the market for historically important Leica models. A Leica M3 originally produced as a reserve unit for the camera gifted to Queen Elizabeth the Second by President Theodor Heuss in 1958 achieved one hundred and fifty six thousand euros, outperforming its initial estimate. A rare Leica MP finished in black paint, highly coveted by both collectors and press photographers, reached nine hundred thousand euros.

The auction also featured a particularly rare Leica I Mod A Luxus Special Outfit from 1929. With only ninety five units ever produced and accompanied by gold plated accessories including binoculars, a Leitz FINOT and a FOFER rangefinder, the set reached its upper estimate of three hundred and sixty thousand euros, confirming the enduring appeal of Luxus editions among serious collectors.

This forty seventh edition reinforces Vienna’s position as one of the world’s key centres for photographic collecting. In a year of special significance for Leica, which celebrates the one hundredth anniversary of the original Leica I launched in 1925, the brand continues to stand as a witness to cultural, social and artistic evolution across a century.

The anniversary will be marked throughout 2025 with international events in Dubai, Milan, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo, culminating in a dedicated celebration week at Leica’s headquarters in Wetzlar. Major exhibitions across the global network of Leica Galleries will further highlight the work of outstanding photographers, honouring both the heritage and the future of the brand.

The Leitz Photographica Auction once again demonstrates that a camera can be far more than a tool. It can be a vessel of memory, culture and legacy. And when linked to figures such as Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth the Second, it becomes part of a narrative that transcends photography itself.