The former leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church was once the humble owner of an 18-carat gold pectoral cross and diamond encrusted platinum ring.
Pope Paul VI was the leader of the “Holy See” until he passed in 1978, and was owner of these precious artefacts, which are now on sale in New Orleans.
The Louisiana-based MS Rau Antiques has possession of the jewels, including the 75-carat diamonds, and is selling the lot for $1.9 million, it was reported by Forbes.
“Not only are these two pieces historically significant, they are remarkable due to the fact that Papal jewellery rarely comes on the market,” Bill Rau, owner of the antiques business, told the news outlet.
The yellow gold cross is seven inches long and also boasts a number of Colombian emeralds. The 12 diamonds range between 3 and 8.66 carats and the shaft bears the stamp “Cassio”, referring to Studio Cassio who remain in the service of the Vatican.
The ring is centred with an impressive 13-carat round white diamond and 14 smaller stones. Both items bear the Christian Chi Rho symbol, which was adopted by Emporer Constantine in the fourth century AD.
Pope Paul VI originally donated the jewellery to be auctioned off for humanitarian funds, on his visit to the UN General Assembly in 1965. The pieces have since been bought and sold several times.