Jim Sichko, aCatholic priest from Lexington, Kentucky, visited Pope Francis in May and asked him to sign two bottles of bourbon for charity. Jim SichkoWhenever Catholic priest Jim Sichko visits the Vatican, he always brings a gift for the pope. Since Sichko is from Lexington, Kentucky, bourbon is usually his go-to. (Hemade headlines a few years ago for giving the pope a rare 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle.)During a trip in May, Sichko presented Pope Francis with two bottles of bourbonbut this time, he didnt let the religious leader keep them. He asked Pope Francis to autograph the spirits and then give them back, so that he could auction them off for charity, per theCatholic News Agencys Daniel Payne. Pope Francis happily obligedbut not without cracking a joke first.Which one is mine? he asked Sichko.On December 7, thesigned bottles will be sold at a live auction at Sothebys in New York. Each bottle is expected to go for between $1,000 and $10,000, though predicting their final sale price is more of an art than a science.These estimates have a wide range, as we expect that Pope Francis name and signature holds incredible value around the world, says Zev Glesta, assistant vice president and whiskey specialist for Sothebys, toWhisky Advocates Sean Evans. Plus, those few lucky buyers can truly say they have a blessed whiskey shelf.The proceeds will be donated to several nonprofits, including an animal shelter and the Maxwell Street Legal Clinic, which provides legal assistance to immigrants in Kentucky. Sichko selected those causes because of their connection to the pope. Pope Francis is named after St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals; he has alsoadvocated for the compassionate treatment of migrants. Jim Sichko is known for bringing bourbon as a gift when he visits the Vatican. Jim SichkoBoth bottles are filled with bourbon made at Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Theyre barrel picks, meaning that Sichko visited the distillery and selected a specific barrel of whiskey to be bottled. Sichkodonated most of both barrels to charity. But he saved the first bottle from each one to be signed by the pope and auctioned off.One bottle commemorates Pope Francis tenth anniversary as pope and features the papal Coat of Arms. The bourbon inside was made from Willetts original recipe and aged for ten years.The other honors the 2025 Jubileea 12-month period in which Catholics can ask for the forgiveness of sins for themselves or deceased loved ones. (Jubilees typically only take place every 25 years, and this years theme is Pilgrims of Hope.) Also aged for ten years, the bottle features the official jubilee sticker.Why has Sichko gone to such great lengths to raise money for charity? In 2016, Pope Francis selected Sichko to be a papalmissionary of mercy, a small group of priests who can pardon certain sins. More broadly, theyre also tasked with spreading a message of hope and kindness through acts of compassion, writes Tom Wilmes forGarden & Gun magazine.Sichko has taken that mission to heart. He often performs random acts of kindness, like donating10,000 N-95 masks during the pandemic and helping aflooded grocery store rebuild. Hes paid forfunerals andburial expenses, supportedlaid-off miners and made large donations tofood pantries.One of the things that Pope Francis has said to us missionaries is that weve got to smell like our sheep, Sichko toldEsquires Dave Holmes in 2018. Weve got to get dirty. Weve got to get in the trenches.The bourbon auction is just his latest projecteven though he doesnt drink much himself.Kindness costs nothing, Sichko tellsWLEX-TVs Drew Amman. It costs nothing to be kind.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Alcohol, Animals, Auctions, Food, Immigrants, Liquor, Religion