Italian priest gives Renault 4 to the pope

VATICAN CITY, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- An Italian pastor said Pope Francis' call for priests and seminarians to live humbly inspired him to donate his Renault 4 to the pontiff.

The Rev. Renzo Roca, 69, pastor of St. Lucy Parish in Pescantina, wrote to the pope with an offer to donate his car following the pope's exhortation to members of the clergy in July to live simply and humbly.

He delivered the vehicle personally Sept. 7, the Catholic News Agency reported Friday.

"When I gave it to him, we got into the car, but I didn't have to explain anything to the Pope because he told me that he also used a Renault 4 in Argentina and that it never left him stranded," Roca said.

The pope rode in the car with Roca to meet with the group of parishioners who had accompanied Roca on his trip. Roca said a young man presented the pontiff with a T-shirt the pope insisted on paying for.

Roca said a member of the Swiss guard joked with him about the gift.

"Now we are going to be a little worried because we'll have to watch what Pope Francis does with that Renault 4," Roca quoted the guard as saying.