Leica certainly knows how to make an impression via auctions, and this upcoming one is probably one of its most significant. This fall, a very unique Leica M-A camera paired with a Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH. lens, both engraved with the number 5,000,000, will be auctioned. This special set was personally presented to Pope Francis in 2024. Now, just months after his passing, it will be available at the 47th Leitz Photographica Auction on November 22 at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna.
This is not just any Leica M-A camera. It’s a special edition gifted to His Holiness Pope Francis in 2024. The camera has a silver chrome finish with white leatherette and detailed engravings in white, gold, and black paint. The hot shoe cover showcases the Keys of Peter. while the back of the top plate displays his personal motto, Miserando atque eligendo, which means “lowly but chosen.”
The Noctilux lens that is being auctioned along with this camera has a chrome finish, with engravings in gold and white. Both the body cap and the lens cap feature the Coat of Arms of Vatican City. The year of the presentation is inscribed in Roman numerals as A.D. MMXXIV. In addition, the body cap and the lens cap are also engraved with the Coat of Arms of the State of Vatican City. As a whole, the set comes in a custom presentation box with a matching key and includes a photograph of Pope Francis receiving the gift. Bidding for the set starts at 30,000 Euros but is estimated to fetch at least 60,000 to 70,000 Euros. It could possibly fetch a lot more than that, given how a recent Leica auction went.
It’s not just this Leica M-A that’s being put up for bidding at this auction. You can also see a Leica MP-114 black paint from 1958, one of only 141 cameras of its kind, which is expected to sell for 700,000 to 800,000 euros. A Leica I Mod. A Luxus from 1929, an early gold-plated version of Leica’s first series camera, will also be sold and has an estimated price between 300,000 and 360,000 euros. All the money raised will be donated to the Pope’s personal charity as per his wishes, making this more than just another rare Leica auction but an event where Leica’s legacy and compassion meet.
100 Years of Leica
This historic auction comes in a significant year. 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Leica I, This was the first mass-produced 35 mm camera; possibly a camera that changed the history of photography when it debuted at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925. To celebrate this anniversary, Leica announced cultural projects and special edition products worldwide under the theme “100 Years of Leica: Witness to a Century.”
Leica’s legacy across this century hasn’t been only about camera models. It includes history, culture, and the people who used their cameras during important moments. The auction of this unique M-A and Noctilux set feels like a proper tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88, just months after receiving this gift. The camera is more than a collector’s item. It will be seen as a piece that embodies the humility and service of a pope respected across religions and faiths. Collectors will seek this unit for its rarity, which could greatly increase in value in the decades ahead.
Images used in this article were provided for use by our Leica reps