Other donors have already gifted the Pope a white motorcycle and an electric car. Now, Pope Leo XIV has received a white horse as a gift.
Proton, a purebred Arabian, was given to the Pope on Wednesday by Andrzej Michalski, owner and founder of the Michalski Stud Farm, in Kołobrzeg-Budzistowo, Poland.
“When I saw the photos of the future Pope on horseback in Peru, the idea came to me that I wanted to give him a beautiful Arabian horse—one that would be worthy of him, and white, because white naturally corresponds to the Pope’s white cassock,” Mr. Michalski told Vatican News.
He explained that this gesture was his way of expressing gratitude and responding to the Pope’s appeal to strengthen love through concrete actions.
Proton’s father came from the United States, and his mother was bought from a princess in Jordan. The horse was born in Janów Podlaski, and Mr. Michalski purchased him as a young colt and raised him at his own stud farm.
“The horse moves beautifully and is exceptionally handsome,” the breeder noted.
“When I saw the photos of the future Pope on horseback in Peru, the idea came to me that I wanted to give him a beautiful Arabian horse—one that would be worthy of him, and white, because white naturally corresponds to the Pope’s white cassock,” Mr. Michalski told Vatican News.
He explained that this gesture was his way of expressing gratitude and responding to the Pope’s appeal to strengthen love through concrete actions.
Proton’s father came from the United States, and his mother was bought from a princess in Jordan. The horse was born in Janów Podlaski, and Mr. Michalski purchased him as a young colt and raised him at his own stud farm.
“The horse moves beautifully and is exceptionally handsome,” the breeder noted.
The gift was presented to the Pope just before Wednesday’s General Audience. “The Pope was very happy; we led the horse together. He was delighted, and we were overjoyed,” Mr. Michalski recounted.
During the meeting, a letter was also read in which the owner described the activities of his stud farm and asked for a blessing on the occasion of its upcoming 30th anniversary next year.