VATICAN CITY (REUTERS) - Pope Francis received some hot new wheels on Wednesday (Nov 15) in the form of a white-and-yellow Lamborghini - but he won't be using it on the tree-shaded roads of the Vatican gardens.

The donated Lamborghini Huracan, which normally sells for more than US$200,000 (S$270,000), was signed by the Pope outside his Vatican residence and will be auctioned by Sotheby's, with proceeds given to the pontiff to help the needy.

The Vatican said all the money would go to projects to help Christians return to rebuild their homes in Iraq's Nineveh Plains that were destroyed by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants.

It will also go to help female victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution and to two Italian groups which provide medical services in central Africa.

Francis has shunned the papal limousines used by his predecessors in favour of a simple blue Ford Focus.

White and yellow are the colours of the Vatican flag.

Lamborghini is part of the Volkswagen group.